Sunday, March 15, 2015

Tulowitzki, Morneau go deep, Rockies overpower Royals 6-2

Final

Royals 2

(10-3, 6-1 away)

Rockies 6

(7-4, 4-1 home)




4:10PM,EDT,March 15,2015
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Pima County, AZ 

123456789 R H E
KC 020000000 2 10 2
COL 31001001 - 6 11 0
 
 
 
 
Associated Press
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Troy Tulowitzki and Justin Morneau hit home runs on consecutive pitches in the first inning, lifting the Colorado Rockies to a 6-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Tulowitzki's liner off Royals rookie Aaron Brooks curled inside the left field foul pole. The two-run shot was the second of the spring for Tulowitzki, who also made a diving play at shortstop as he shows no ill-effects from season-ending hip surgery.Morneau, the 2014 NL batting champ, sent Brooks' next pitch halfway up the grassy seating area in left center."Today was a nice little show in the first. That's a good feeling for a pitcher," Rockies starter Kyle Kendrick said. "The offense is going to score some runs."Corey Dickerson went 3 for 3 and Nolan Arenado added an RBI single as the top four hitters in the Colorado order combined to go 6 for 11.Christian Colon had a two-run single off Kendrick.Rockies No. 1 starter Jorge De La Rosa made a pain-free spring debut in a morning "B" game, giving up a double and striking out two in two scoreless innings. He had been out with a sore groin.STARTING TIMERoyals: Brooks, who pitched in two games for the Royals last season, gave up four runs, five hits and struck out four in two innings. The right-hander was filling in for Jeremy Guthrie, who is recovering from a stomach virus.Rockies: Kendrick, signed away from Philadelphia to fill a rotation spot, gave up two runs and five hits in three innings in his third start."I had to battle my command a little bit," he said. "I wasn't as sharp as last time."Jhoulys Chacin, coming back from shoulder trouble a year ago, followed. He worked out of a sixth-inning jam to finish with three scoreless innings, allowing four hits.A-LEVEL "B" GAMEExecutives, scouts and media crowded around a back field for a rare "B" game loaded with name players.De La Rosa looked sharp in his twice-delayed first start. He mixed a variety of pitches, throwing 16 of 24 for strikes. He threw 16 more pitches in the bullpen.De La Rosa's lone blemish was Arizona slugger Mark Trumbo's double off the wall. The left-hander also struck out former Rockies teammate Jordan Pacheco."I felt normal today," De La Rosa said. "My fastball command was really good, except with Trumbo."De La Rosa expects to go three innings in his next start."I've got a lot of time to get ready," he said.Rockies prospect Eddie Butler struggled, giving up five runs and eights hits in three innings. Closer LaTroy Hawkins allowed an infield hit in a scoreless inning.The added game allowed Colorado's pitching staff to get its work in ahead of Monday's off day.TRAINER'S ROOMRoyals: Right-hander Luke Hochevar is set for his second appearance Monday in his comeback from elbow-reconstruction surgery.Rockies: Second baseman Daniel Descalso was a late scratch with a sore oblique.MORALES IMPRESSESLeft-hander Franklin Morales, who spent last season in Colorado, is helping his chances to make the Royals' roster.Morales threw two more scoreless innings with a walk and two strikeouts. He hasn't allowed a run in six innings."If he can pitch the way that he's pitched against us in the past, he'll benefit our side," manager Ned Yost said. "We're seeing that."CARGO TO BUNT?Rockies left-handed slugger Carlos Gonzalez faced what will likely be many defensive shifts Saturday with three infielders on the right side."Teams want to shift? We'll take at-bats accordingly," manager Walt Weiss said. "I think you'll see CarGo lay down some bunts to beat the shift."We want to put them in position to where they're reacting to us."UP NEXTRoyals: RHP Yordano Ventura starts Monday vs. Cleveland.Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis starts Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press
 
 
 

Game Information

StadiumSalt River Fields at Talking Stick, Pima County, AZ
 
 
 
 

KANSAS CITY (2) AT COLORADO (6)

 KANSAS CITY      AB  R  H BI  COLORADO         AB  R  H BI
 Escobar ss        3  0  0  0  Dickerson lf      3  2  3  1 
 Noriega ss        1  0  0  0  Dahl cf           2  0  0  0 
 Dyson cf          3  0  2  0  Tulowitzki ss     2  1  1  2 
 Orlando cf        1  0  0  0  Adames ss-3b      2  0  0  0 
 Infante dh        4  0  1  0  Morneau 1b        3  1  1  1 
 Calixte pr-dh     0  0  0  0  McBride 1b        1  0  0  0 
 Kratz c           3  0  0  0  Arenado 3b        3  0  1  1 
 Boscán c          1  0  0  0  Parker lf         1  0  0  0 
 Roberts 3b        3  0  1  0  Paulsen dh        4  0  1  0 
 Dozier 3b         1  0  0  0  Stubbs cf         3  0  0  0 
 Eibner lf         3  1  3  0  Story 3b-ss       1  1  1  0 
 Sierra lf         1  0  0  0  Ynoa 2b           3  1  1  0 
 Cuthbert 1b       3  0  0  0  M Tauchman rf     1  0  0  0 
 Fields 1b         1  0  0  0  Hundley c         3  0  1  0 
 Bonifacio rf      3  1  2  0  Garneau c         1  0  0  0 
 Adams rf          1  0  0  0  Barnes rf         2  0  0  0 
 Colón 2b          2  0  1  2  J Wong 2b         1  0  1  1 
 Mondesi 2b        1  0  0  0  
 TOTALS           35  2 10  2  TOTALS           36  6 11  6

 KANSAS CITY               020 000 000 --  2
 COLORADO                  310 010 01x --  6

 E--Dozier, Cuthbert. DP--COLORADO 2. LOB--KANSAS 
 CITY 6, COLORADO 7. 2B--Dickerson, Eibner. 
 HR--Tulowitzki 1 (2) (off Brooks), Morneau 1 (1) 
 (off Brooks). SB--Hundley 1 (1), Ynoa 1 (1), 
 Bonifacio 1 (1).
                                   IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR
  KANSAS CITY
 Brooks (L,1-1)                     2   5   4   4   0   4   2
 Paterson                           1   0   0   0   0   1   0
 Frasor                             1   1   0   0   0   0   0
 Herrera                            1   3   1   1   0   1   0
 F. Morales                         2   0   0   0   1   2   0
 Madson                             1   2   1   0   0   0   0
  COLORADO
 Kendrick (W,1-1)                   3   5   2   2   0   1   0
 Chacín                             3   4   0   0   0   1   0
 Laffey                             2   1   0   0   0   1   0
 Roberts                            1   0   0   0   0   0   0

 SO--KC: Infante, Orlando, Roberts. COL: Stubbs 2,
 Hundley 2, Arenado, Paulsen, Parker, Tulowitzki. 
 BB--COL: Barnes. T--2:37. A--12,243.

Game Information

StadiumSalt River Fields at Talking Stick, Pima County, AZ
 

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