For the first time in the month of May, Colorado Rockies fans are waking up to good news. The Rockies 11-game losing streak came to an end Thursday and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki publicly addressed the rumors that he and his agent might soon be requesting a trade.
The win came in heroic fashion, as Carlos Gonzalez – mired in season-long slump – connected on a ninth inning home run off Dodgers closer Yimi Garcia to lift Colorado to a 5-4 victory. The blast was just the third of the season for Gonzalez and his first since April 25.
Colorado entered the ninth trailing by two runs when Nick Hundley singled to lead off the inning. D.J. LeMahieu proceeded to strike out, but Drew Stubbs lined the first fastball he saw from Garcia to left to put the tying run on base. Charlie Blackmon went down looking, the last of 14 strikeouts on the evening for the Rockies, to bring up the struggling Gonzalez with two outs.
Gonzalez, who had just 19 hits on the season heading into the at-bat, saw a steady diet of fastballs sent a line drive over the right centerfield fence to put the Rockies ahead for the first time in the game.
John Axford closed out the game, allowing only a walk to Adrian Gonzalez.
Before the game, Tulowitzki met with reporters to dispel rumors that he’s trying to force a trade – rumors that began circulating Tuesday when the New York Post reported that the All Star shortstop would meet with his agent Thursday morning to discuss the possibility.
Tulowitzki was emphatic that he did not direct his agent, Paul Cohen, to leak his desire for a trade.
“The Rockies’ ownership and myself have always been close, so there’s no reason to try to leak something. I’d go straight to them,” Tulowitzki told the collected media.
Colorado faces the Dodgers tonight in Los Angeles as Clayton Kershaw will make his fifth attempt at reaching the 100-win plateau. First pitch is at 8:10 p.m. MDT.
