The Rockies have gone 9-1 since the All-Star thanks to a combination of very good pitching and their best offensive surge of the season. They have outscored opponents 76-32 in that stretch and while completing a three-game sweep at the hitters' paradise that is Great American Ball Park, the Rockies outscored the Reds 23-3.
"We pitched as well as you could ever want to pitch in this ballpark," manager Clint Hurdle said, "and offensively we showed up real good from the top of the lineup to the bottom of the lineup." The Rockies have been doing that since the All-Star break. They are hitting .371 in the second half and .301 with runners in scoring position while averaging 7.6 runs per game during their 10-game tear. Opposing starters have lasted fewer than five innings in six of those games.
The Rockies last swept a series on the road in late September, when they were in the midst of a 14-1 sprint that carried them to the postseason. This surge is reminiscent of that time, but with one notable difference.
"Last year when we were on that run, it seemed one pitch could make a difference in the ballgame," shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. "Last year, the games that we were winning (were) 4-3 or 3-2, and (we) had to make that one play or had to come up with that big hit. This run, it seems like we're kind of beating up on teams."
ROCKIES 11, REDS 0: The Rockies improved to 9-1 since the All-Star break and completed their first series sweep on the road this season by pounding former teammate Josh Fogg, who lasted 3 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs in the third and a pair of two-run homers in the fourth to Jeff Baker and Garrett Atkins. Ubaldo Jimenez pitched six scoreless innings.
