Rockies defeat Indians

6/19/2008

DENVER - Jeff Baker homered and scored three runs and Jeff Francis pitched six innings of one-run ball last night as the Colorado Rockies beat the Cleveland Indians 4-2.

Omar Quintanilla went 2-for-3 and had two RBIs for the Rockies, who have won four of their last five. Brian Fuentes pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 15 chances.

Francis (3-6) pitched into the seventh to earn his second win in his last four starts. Aaron Laffey (4-4) lost for the first time since May 22 and for just the second time since April 28.

Baker, who hit an inside-the-park home run in Tuesday's game, got the Rockies on the board first in the second inning. He hit a one-out double to left, Chris Iannetta was hit by a pitch and Quintanilla doubled down the right-field like to make it 1-0.

Baker led off the fourth with his third home run to make it 2-0.

The Indians cut the lead in half in the sixth when Jamey Carroll doubled home Grady Sizemore with one out. The Rockies got the run right back in their half of the sixth when Baker reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored on Quintanilla's single to left to make it 3-1.

Shin-Soo Choo's sacrifice fly in the seventh inning trimmed the lead to one, but the Rockies made it a two-run cushion Ryan Spilborghs' sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning.

NOTES: Cleveland RHP Fausto Carmona (left hip strain) experienced soreness after throwing a simulated game Monday and will not throw scheduled rehab games of June 20 and 25.

Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner is getting a second opinion on his sore right shoulder.

He traveled to Birmingham, Ala., yesterday to be evaluated by renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews.

Hafner is not progressing as quickly as hoped from the injury that landed him on the disabled list May 30.

Hafner is hitting .217 with four home runs this season and has been bothered by the shoulder since spring training. The 31-year-old Hafner is Cleveland's career leader at DH with 134 home runs and 464 RBIs.

Rockies 10, Indians 2

DENVER - Five days after giving up eight runs in 31/3 innings, Greg Reynolds pitched six strong innings and led Colorado's season-high 17-hit attack by going 2-for-3 with a run scored as the Rockies routed the Cleveland Indians 10-2.

Reynolds (2-4) allowed one run on five hits and struck out four to earn his second win in his last three starts. The Rockies' big offensive night helped, too. They got nine of their hits off of starter Paul Byrd (3-7), who took the loss after giving up five runs in four-plus innings.