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Jimenez, Rockies rout Arizona 12-1

Apr 28, 2010 - 4:58 AM DENVER(AP) -- Carlos Gonzalez finished a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. Even he was in awe of teammate Ubaldo Jimenez.

"He's one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball right now," Gonzalez said.

Jimenez extended his scoreless streak to 22 1-3 innings with six shutout innings and the Colorado Rockies routed the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-1 on Tuesday night.

Jimenez's scoreless innings streak is the longest in franchise history by a starter. The previous record was 20 set by Denny Neagle in 2002, and matched by Franklin Morales in 2007. He has not allowed a run in his last three outings, starting with his no-hitter against Atlanta on April 17, the first in club history.

The soft-spoken Jimenez (5-0) shrugged off the streak.

"I don't even think about it," he said. "You can make a mistake and they could hit a home run and that would be the end of it."

Not the way Jiminez is pitching. He's the first Rockies pitcher to have a five-win April and his 13 wins since Aug. 1, 2009, are the most in the majors.

"He was tough as he usually is," Arizona outfielder Justin Upton said. "He had his fastball working and his offspeed stuff working and we couldn't solve him."

Jimenez delivered another strong start at the right time for the Rockies. Colorado placed starters Jorge De La Rosa (torn tendon on left middle finger) and Jason Hammel (strained right groin) on the 15-day disabled list before the game, stretching a roster already dealing with injuries.

Jimenez struck out six, walked two and allowed two hits in six innings. His ERA for the season is 0.79.

"He's just in command of his delivery when he's out there," Colorado manager Jim Tracy said.

He had help from his offense and Arizona's pitching staff. The Rockies set a season high in runs and hits with 16 and every starter had a hit, including Jimenez.

The Rockies did most of their damage against starter Edwin Jackson, who allowed 10 runs and 11 hits, walked two and struck out two in 2 1-3 innings. Carlos Gonzalez had three hits and a career-high five RBIs and Troy Tulowitzki also had three hits and scored three runs to pace the Rockies.

"It was one of those days where regardless of what you threw up there, it was hit either hit hard or well placed," Jackson said.

Gonzalez led the early offensive barrage that chased Jackson (1-2) in the third. Gonzalez had a two-run double in the first and a two-run triple in the second to give Colorado a 7-0 lead.

The Rockies continued to pound Jackson in the third. Ian Stewart led off with a single, Seth Smith walked and after Jimenez put down a successful sacrifice bunt, Eric Young singled to drive in both runners.

"Seemed like everybody was clicking," Young said.

Blaine Boyer relieved Jackson but struggled with his control. He walked the first three batters he faced to drive in Colorado's 10th run, and Gonzalez drove in his fifth run on a ground out to make it 11-0.

Miguel Olivo's sacrifice fly in the fifth made it 12-0.

Gonzalez came to bat in the seventh with a chance to hit for the cycle but his scorching liner to center field was caught by Chris Young.

"I was trying to hit the ball the hardest I could, and I did," Gonzalez said. "It was too bad it was a line drive right to the centerfielder. I'll take that every day if I'm going to hit the ball at every at bat. That's what I'm looking for."

So is Tracy, who moved Gonzalez from first to fifth in the order.

"If he's going to knock in five a day we might have to try it again," Tracy said.

Upton drove in Arizona's run with a single in the eighth.

NOTES: The longest scoreless streak in Colorado history is 29 1-3 innings by reliever Gabe White in 2000. ... The Rockies optioned C Chris Iannetta to Triple-A and recalled C Paul Phillips and pitchers Jhoulys Chacin and Juan Rincon. ... Colorado LHP Jeff Francis (strained left shoulder) threw three simulated innings and 45 pitches during extended spring training in Tucson, Ariz., and "had no issues," Tracy said. ... RHP Huston Street (right shoulder strain) threw 20 pitches during a bullpen session. He has another bullpen session scheduled for Friday. ... Tracy said Chacin will start Sunday in San Francisco.