CINCINNATI -- Nolan Arenado's big games back-to-back have the Colorado Rockies feeling like they're finally getting their act together.
The Cincinnati Reds? Every day brings another low point.
The Reds lost their ninth in a row on Monday, their worst slump in 17 years. Arenado homered, had three hits and drove in the tiebreaking run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning off Aroldis Chapman for a 5-4 victory, Colorado's third in a row.
"I see it turning around," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "I see us pitching better, taking better at-bats, just playing better."
The Rockies opened the season by winning their first four games, which was their high point. Their offense has come around the last few days behind Arenado, who had four hits and drove in four runs during an 11-2 win over the Giants on Sunday.
The third baseman had a pair of singles and a solo homer off Reds starter Jason Marquis. He then helped the Rockies pull it out against Chapman (2-3), who came in for the ninth.
Charlie Blackmon opened with a walk and took third on D.J. LeMahieu's single. Blackmon scored easily on Arenado's routine fly to center fielder Billy Hamilton, whose throw was off-target.
"By that time, I was a little tired," Arenado said. "If Hamilton had made the throw more on-line, he probably would have been out."
Rafael Betancourt (2-1) retired the four batters he faced. John Axford gave up a walk in the ninth while getting his seventh save in as many chances.
"Three wins in a row, we haven't seen that in a while," Axford said. "To go against one of the best closers in the game and scratch out a run, that's great for us."
LeMahieu also had a two-run single off Marquis, who gave up four runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
The Reds' losing streak is their longest since they dropped 11 straight in June 1998 under manager Jack McKeon.
"We've earned our nine-game losing streak, but we're capable of playing better," manager Bryan Price said. "It makes it hard to find enjoyment and peace when you know you're capable of playing better."
The riverboat smokestacks that celebrate home runs and strikeouts were back in action after one of them caught fire during the last homestand. They shot off fireworks after Todd Frazier's two-run homer in the first inning off Eddie Butler, his 13th overall.
Price tried to get more out of his struggling offense by batting Marquis eighth and the slumping Hamilton ninth, the first time since 1933 that a Reds pitcher batted anywhere other than ninth.
Marlon Byrd doubled and scored on Hamilton's single in the fourth, cutting the Rockies' lead to 4-3. Byrd's leadoff homer in the sixth tied it. Butler gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings.
NICE GRABS
Rockies right fielder Brandon Barnes landed in the stands while catching Brandon Phillips' foul fly in the second inning. Arenado also ended up in the stands while catching Skip Schumaker's foul ball off third base in the eighth inning, hitting his throat as he tumbled over the railing. He stayed in the game.
STATS & STREAKS
Charlie Blackmon stole a career-high three bases. The last Rockies player to steal three in a game was Carlos Gomez on May 30, 2013 at Houston. ... LeMahieu extended his hitting streak to eight games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: Gomez was supposed to be in right field but was scratched from the starting lineup because of a stomach illness.
Reds: C Devin Mesoraco went on the 15-day DL with a sore left hip. LHP Manny Parra was activated off the DL, recovered from a strained neck. RH Johnny Cueto was examined for a stiff right elbow.
UP NEXT
Rockies: LH Jorge De La Rosa makes his seventh start since recovering from a strained groin. He's 1-2 with a 6.51 ERA.
Reds: RH Michael Lorenzen makes his fourth start, after making his last two appearances in relief. Lorenzen is 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA as a starter.
---
Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay
The Cincinnati Reds? Every day brings another low point.
The Reds lost their ninth in a row on Monday, their worst slump in 17 years. Arenado homered, had three hits and drove in the tiebreaking run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning off Aroldis Chapman for a 5-4 victory, Colorado's third in a row.
"I see it turning around," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "I see us pitching better, taking better at-bats, just playing better."
The Rockies opened the season by winning their first four games, which was their high point. Their offense has come around the last few days behind Arenado, who had four hits and drove in four runs during an 11-2 win over the Giants on Sunday.
The third baseman had a pair of singles and a solo homer off Reds starter Jason Marquis. He then helped the Rockies pull it out against Chapman (2-3), who came in for the ninth.
Charlie Blackmon opened with a walk and took third on D.J. LeMahieu's single. Blackmon scored easily on Arenado's routine fly to center fielder Billy Hamilton, whose throw was off-target.
"By that time, I was a little tired," Arenado said. "If Hamilton had made the throw more on-line, he probably would have been out."
Rafael Betancourt (2-1) retired the four batters he faced. John Axford gave up a walk in the ninth while getting his seventh save in as many chances.
"Three wins in a row, we haven't seen that in a while," Axford said. "To go against one of the best closers in the game and scratch out a run, that's great for us."
LeMahieu also had a two-run single off Marquis, who gave up four runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
The Reds' losing streak is their longest since they dropped 11 straight in June 1998 under manager Jack McKeon.
"We've earned our nine-game losing streak, but we're capable of playing better," manager Bryan Price said. "It makes it hard to find enjoyment and peace when you know you're capable of playing better."
The riverboat smokestacks that celebrate home runs and strikeouts were back in action after one of them caught fire during the last homestand. They shot off fireworks after Todd Frazier's two-run homer in the first inning off Eddie Butler, his 13th overall.
Price tried to get more out of his struggling offense by batting Marquis eighth and the slumping Hamilton ninth, the first time since 1933 that a Reds pitcher batted anywhere other than ninth.
Marlon Byrd doubled and scored on Hamilton's single in the fourth, cutting the Rockies' lead to 4-3. Byrd's leadoff homer in the sixth tied it. Butler gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings.
NICE GRABS
Rockies right fielder Brandon Barnes landed in the stands while catching Brandon Phillips' foul fly in the second inning. Arenado also ended up in the stands while catching Skip Schumaker's foul ball off third base in the eighth inning, hitting his throat as he tumbled over the railing. He stayed in the game.
STATS & STREAKS
Charlie Blackmon stole a career-high three bases. The last Rockies player to steal three in a game was Carlos Gomez on May 30, 2013 at Houston. ... LeMahieu extended his hitting streak to eight games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: Gomez was supposed to be in right field but was scratched from the starting lineup because of a stomach illness.
Reds: C Devin Mesoraco went on the 15-day DL with a sore left hip. LHP Manny Parra was activated off the DL, recovered from a strained neck. RH Johnny Cueto was examined for a stiff right elbow.
UP NEXT
Rockies: LH Jorge De La Rosa makes his seventh start since recovering from a strained groin. He's 1-2 with a 6.51 ERA.
Reds: RH Michael Lorenzen makes his fourth start, after making his last two appearances in relief. Lorenzen is 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA as a starter.
---
Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay
1:10PM,EDT,May 25,2015
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Colorado - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Marquis pitching for Cincinnati | COL | CIN |
| Blackmon walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Blackmon stole second. | 0 | 0 |
| LeMahieu grounded out to first, Blackmon to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Arenado singled to left, Blackmon scored. | 1 | 0 |
| Paulsen singled to right, Arenado to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Rosario struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Barnes grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Eddie Butler pitching for Colorado | COL | CIN |
| Phillips lined out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Votto doubled to deep left. | 1 | 0 |
| Frazier homered to center (398 feet), Votto scored. | 1 | 2 |
| Bruce singled to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Bruce caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Peña walked. | 1 | 2 |
| Byrd grounded out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jason Marquis pitching for Cincinnati | COL | CIN |
| Hundley safe at first on throwing error by third baseman Frazier. | 1 | 2 |
| Descalso singled to center, Hundley to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Butler sacrificed to first, Hundley to third, Descalso to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Blackmon struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| LeMahieu singled to center, Hundley and Descalso scored. | 3 | 2 |
| LeMahieu stole second. | 3 | 2 |
| Arenado reached on infield single to shortstop, LeMahieu to third. | 3 | 2 |
| Paulsen struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Eddie Butler pitching for Colorado | COL | CIN |
| Cozart flied out to center. | 3 | 2 |
| Marquis doubled to left. | 3 | 2 |
| Hamilton grounded out to second, Marquis to third. | 3 | 2 |
| Phillips fouled out to right. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jason Marquis pitching for Cincinnati | COL | CIN |
| Rosario grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| Barnes hit a ground rule double to deep right. | 3 | 2 |
| Hundley grounded out to first, Barnes to third. | 3 | 2 |
| Descalso intentionally walked. | 3 | 2 |
| Butler grounded out to catcher. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Eddie Butler pitching for Colorado | COL | CIN |
| Votto lined out to left. | 3 | 2 |
| Frazier lined out to center. | 3 | 2 |
| Bruce lined out to third. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jason Marquis pitching for Cincinnati | COL | CIN |
| Blackmon flied out to center. | 3 | 2 |
| LeMahieu grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| Arenado homered to left center (388 feet). | 4 | 2 |
| Paulsen singled to right. | 4 | 2 |
| Rosario grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Paulsen out at second. | 4 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Eddie Butler pitching for Colorado | COL | CIN |
| Peña lined out to third. | 4 | 2 |
| Byrd doubled to left. | 4 | 2 |
| Cozart walked. | 4 | 2 |
| Marquis struck out swinging. | 4 | 2 |
| Hamilton singled to right center, Byrd scored, Cozart to third. | 4 | 3 |
| Phillips grounded out to third. | 4 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jason Marquis pitching for Cincinnati | COL | CIN |
| Barnes flied out to left. | 4 | 3 |
| Hundley singled to right center. | 4 | 3 |
| Hundley caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. | 4 | 3 |
| Descalso lined out to center. | 4 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Eddie Butler pitching for Colorado | COL | CIN |
| Votto flied out to left. | 4 | 3 |
| Frazier grounded out to third. | 4 | 3 |
| Bruce singled to center. | 4 | 3 |
| Peña grounded out to second. | 4 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jason Marquis pitching for Cincinnati | COL | CIN |
| Butler struck out looking. | 4 | 3 |
| Blackmon singled to right. | 4 | 3 |
| Blackmon stole second. | 4 | 3 |
| LeMahieu flied out to right. | 4 | 3 |
| Mattheus relieved Marquis. | 4 | 3 |
| Blackmon stole third. | 4 | 3 |
| Arenado lined out to left. | 4 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Eddie Butler pitching for Colorado | COL | CIN |
| Byrd homered to right center (368 feet). | 4 | 4 |
| Cozart grounded out to third. | 4 | 4 |
| Boesch hit for Mattheus. | 4 | 4 |
| Boesch singled to shallow left center. | 4 | 4 |
| Hamilton lined out to third. | 4 | 4 |
| Phillips flied out to center. | 4 | 4 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Jumbo Diaz pitching for Cincinnati | COL | CIN |
| Díaz relieved Mattheus. | 4 | 4 |
| Paulsen struck out swinging. | 4 | 4 |
| Rosario struck out swinging. | 4 | 4 |
| Barnes struck out swinging. | 4 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Christian Friedrich pitching for Colorado | COL | CIN |
| Friedrich relieved Butler. | 4 | 4 |
| Votto struck out swinging. | 4 | 4 |
| Frazier lined out to right. | 4 | 4 |
| Bruce singled to center. | 4 | 4 |
| Peña singled to left, Bruce to second. | 4 | 4 |
| Paulsen at first base. | 4 | 4 |
| Betancourt relieved Friedrich. | 4 | 4 |
| Ynoa in left field. | 4 | 4 |
| Byrd flied out to right. | 4 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Tony Cingrani pitching for Cincinnati | COL | CIN |
| Cingrani relieved Díaz. | 4 | 4 |
| Hundley lined out to second. | 4 | 4 |
| Descalso flied out to center. | 4 | 4 |
| Ynoa struck out swinging. | 4 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Rafael Betancourt pitching for Colorado | COL | CIN |
| Cozart fouled out to third. | 4 | 4 |
| Schumaker hit for Cingrani. | 4 | 4 |
| Schumaker fouled out to third. | 4 | 4 |
| Hamilton lined out to left. | 4 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Aroldis Chapman pitching for Cincinnati | COL | CIN |
| Chapman relieved Cingrani. | 4 | 4 |
| Blackmon walked. | 4 | 4 |
| LeMahieu singled to right, Blackmon to third. | 4 | 4 |
| Arenado hit sacrifice fly to center, Blackmon scored, LeMahieu to second. | 5 | 4 |
| Paulsen struck out swinging. | 5 | 4 |
| Tulowitzki hit for Betancourt. | 5 | 4 |
| Tulowitzki struck out swinging. | 5 | 4 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| John Axford pitching for Colorado | COL | CIN |
| Axford relieved Betancourt. | 5 | 4 |
| Phillips flied out to center. | 5 | 4 |
| Votto flied out to left. | 5 | 4 |
| Frazier walked. | 5 | 4 |
| Bruce flied out to center. | 5 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado Rockies | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Blackmon CF | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 25 | .267 | .341 | .436 |
| LeMahieu 2B | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 21 | .333 | .386 | .433 |
| Arenado 3B | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .287 | .329 | .541 |
| Paulsen LF-1B | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 15 | .357 | .419 | .536 |
| Rosario 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | .296 | .306 | .479 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | |
a-Tulowitzki PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .272 | .288 | .415 |
Axford P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Barnes RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .529 | .556 | .765 |
| Hundley C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .308 | .349 | .475 |
| Descalso SS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | .210 | .269 | .323 |
| Butler P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | |
Ynoa LF
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .304 | .333 | .391 |
| Totals | 36 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 151 | |||
| a-struck out swinging for R Betancourt in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Barnes (4, Marquis) HR: Arenado (9, 4th inning off Marquis 0 on, 2 Out) RBI: Arenado 3 (28), LeMahieu 2 (23) S: Butler SF: Arenado 2-out RBI: LeMahieu 2, Arenado Rockies RISP: 3-14 (LeMahieu 1-3, Butler 0-1, Paulsen 0-2, Hundley 0-1, Arenado 2-3, Barnes 0-1, Tulowitzki 0-1, Rosario 0-1, Blackmon 0-1) Team LOB: 9 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Blackmon 3 (10, 3rd base off Mattheus/Peña, 2nd base off Marquis/Peña 2); LeMahieu (4, 2nd base off Marquis/Peña) CS: Hundley (4, 2nd base by Marquis/Peña) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH |
| Attendance | 20,516 (48.5% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:59 |
| Weather | 72 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 13 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Tim Timmons, First Base - Todd Tichenor, Second Base - Tim Welke, Third Base - Mike Everitt |
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