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Ellis sparkles in debut with Rockies

Jul 2, 2011 - 5:05 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Mark Ellis made quite a impression during his first game in a Rockies uniform with a homer while knocking in three runs, as Colorado slugged its way past the Kansas City Royals, 9-0 in the opener of a three-game set.

Troy Tulowitzki belted a two-run homer and pinch-hitter Charlie Blackmon hit his first career home run on his 25th birthday for the Rockies, who won for just the second time in seven games.

Colorado starter Juan Nicasio (2-1) allowed just three hits and struck out four through eight innings .

The Royals had just four hits in their fourth straight loss and 10th in their last 12 contests. Starter Danny Duffy (1-3) was roughed up for five runs on nine hits over five innings to get the loss.

"These things go in cycles," Royals manager Ned Yost said of the team's hitting struggles. "This team can hit. We got some kids that can swing the bat, but right now it's a struggle for us. So right now we have to grind it out."

Ty Wigginton singled in Carlos Gonzalez for the game's opening score in the first.

The Rockies tacked on two runs in the third with Tulowitzki's two-run homer that was lifted over the opposite field fence.

Colorado added another two-run inning in the fifth. This time it was Ellis who had the two-run homer that sailed over the left-center fence. It was just Ellis' second at-bat for the Rockies, who acquired him from the Athletics on Thursday for minor league pitcher Bruce Billings and a player to be named later.

"It felt great, you know," Ellis said. "It's fun to be out there. With the new teammates it was a lot of fun. There was a lot of excitement in the building and I was a little nervous."

The newly-acquired second baseman came up big again in the sixth when he doubled in Chris Iannetta and he then scored along with Gonzalez on Todd Helton's double to make it 8-0 game.

Blackmon capped off the scoring barrage with his shot to right as a pinch hitter in the eighth.

Game Notes

Coming into the game, Nicasio allowed 11 hits and 10 runs in 9 2/3 innings during his last two outings...Nicasio threw 111 pitches, 71 for strikes...Colorado took two of three from the Royals last season.