YOUR AD HERE »

Jimenez wins 11th, Rockies avoid sweep with 3-2 win

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Colorado Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez (5) smiles as he celebrates with Ubaldo Jimenez after the final out against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game Sunday, June 6, 2010, in Phoenix. Gonzalez collected two hits and batted in two runs as the Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 3-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
AP | AP

PHOENIX – Ubaldo Jimenez became the first 11-game winner in the majors despite losing his scoreless innings streak after a franchise record 33, and the Colorado Rockies had to hold on for a 3-2 victory Sunday to avoid being swept in three games in Arizona.

Jimenez (11-1) blanked the Diamondbacks through seven innings, then gave up just his second home run of the season, a two-run shot by Conor Jackson in the eighth. It was Arizona’s first score against the hard-throwing right-hander in 27 innings dating to last August.

Jimenez allowed six hits, struck out eight and walked three as his ERA rose to 0.93.



Chris Snyder of Arizona had his streak of 240 games without an error, the third-longest by a catcher in major league history, end when he overthrew second on Brad Hawpe’s steal attempt in the sixth inning.

Arizona set a franchise record with its seventh consecutive one-run game. Colorado had lost three in a row, matching its longest skid of the season.



Jimenez threw 118 pitches after a 128-pitch effort in a complete-game shutout at San Francisco a week ago. He has seven outings of 115 pitches or more this season, and his 11 wins are three more than any other pitcher has in the majors.

Rafael Bettancourt held the Diamondbacks scoreless the remainder of the eighth, then Manny Corpas pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save in eight tries. He blew a save in Arizona’s 7-6 victory Friday night.

Carlos Gonzalez had a two-run single and Troy Tulowitzki a solo homer for the Rockies, who completed a 3-3 road trip.

No one had loaded the bases against Jimenez this season before Arizona did it in the first, yet it resulted in another zero on the scoreboard.

With one out, Jackson reached on the shortstop Tulowitzki’s fielding error, then Adam LaRoche singled and Mark Reynolds walked on a 3-2 pitch. Jimenez, though, got Chris Young to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Kelly Johnson led off the eighth with a double off the top the Arizona bullpen fence in left. Jackson followed with his homer on a 3-1 pitch. Jimenez then walked LaRoche and his outing was through.

Rodrigo Lopez (2-4) matched Jimenez through four.

Todd Helton led off the Colorado fifth with a single, just his fourth hit in 25 at-bats. Clint Barmas followed with a one-out single, then the runners advanced to third and second on Jimenez’s sacrifice bunt. Gonzalez lashed a 2-1 pitch into left field to bring both runners home.

Lopez allowed three runs on nine hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking one.

NOTES: Snyder was 13 short of Mike Matheny’s NL record of 252 straight errorless games by a catcher. Mike Redmond has the longest at 253, a streak that ended May 18. … Colorado’s record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched had been 29 by Gabe White in 2000. … Helton returned to the lineup after a day off but dropped from third to sixth in the batting order. … Arizona RF Justin Upton, 0 for 15 against Jimenez and the major league leader with 76 strikeouts, had the day off. … Diamondbacks SS Stephen Drew was out after hurting the middle finger of his throwing hand on the final play of Saturday night’s victory. He appeared as a pinch hitter in the ninth.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

As a Summit Daily News reader, you make our work possible.

Summit Daily is embarking on a multiyear project to digitize its archives going back to 1989 and make them available to the public in partnership with the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. The full project is expected to cost about $165,000. All donations made in 2023 will go directly toward this project.

Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference.