Thursday, May 02, 2002
Rockies 6, Pirates 0
The Associated Press
DENVER — Good pitching tends to be contagious, and the Colorado Rockies are proving it can happen even at Coors Field. Denny Neagle gave the Rockies their fifth straight strong start, limiting Pittsburgh to three hits in eight innings as the Rockies extended their winning streak to five games with a 6-0 victory Wednesday night.
Rockies starters are a combined 5-0 with a 0.78 ERA in the last five games — all at Coors.
“These guys are pitching lights out,” said Clint Hurdle, who improved to 5-0 as the Rockies' new manager. “They seem to be one-upping each other right now.”
Colorado, which blanked the Pirates 10-0 Tuesday night, produced consecutive shutouts for the first time in the eight-year history of Coors Field.
It was just the 18th shutout overall at Coors Field, the hitter-haven that opened in 1995.
John Thomson and Shawn Chacon had solid outings, then Jason Jennings held Philadelphia to four hits in seven shutout innings. Mike Hampton was even better, limiting Pittsburgh to three hits over seven scoreless innings.
Neagle (3-1) topped them all.
He gave up harmless singles in the first and second innings and a two-out double in the third. He retired 16 of the next 18 batters, allowing two walks. He struck out seven.
“One of the reasons we were so good in Atlanta is the pitchers challenged each other to raise each other's game to another level,” Neagle said. ”(Greg) Maddux would throw a 79-pitch complete game, (Tom) Glavine would get 14 groundball outs, and (John) Smoltz would strike out 15. The bar was set, and I wanted to follow right in their footsteps.
“That's what I've been waiting for to happen around here. Watching the three young guys and what they did against the Phillies over the weekend, and then Hampton getting back on track last night, I didn't feel pressure. I was like, all right, I'm glad it's on me now. I want to be the guy to carry it on,” Neagle said.
Neagle thrived in inclement weather: a steady, cold drizzle and temperatures in the mid-30s. Several players, coaches and umpires wore cold-weather gear covering their ears and necks to ward off the chill.
Todd Helton, Larry Walker and Todd Hollandsworth each had two RBIs for the Rockies. Walker hit a solo homer in the sixth and Hollandsworth had a two-run drive in the eighth off Scott Sauerbeck. Jose Jimenez pitched a perfect ninth.
Pittsburgh, which began the season 12-5, has lost six of its last eight.
“Quite frankly, I'm at a loss for words right now as to why we didn't score any runs,” Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. “I'm not trying to take anything away from Neagle, but we've been pretty bad offensively.”
The Pirates have had only three hits in each of their back-to-back shutout losses.
“We're in a rut but I have full confidence we'll come out of it,” McClendon said.
The Rockies scored twice in the first off Josh Fogg (3-1). Juan Pierre led off with a single, and Juan Uribe followed with a double, extending his hitting streak to 13 games. Pierre scored on Walker's groundout, and Uribe came home on Helton's sacrifice fly.
Colorado made it 3-0 in the third. Pierre singled and, with two outs, Helton doubled over the head of left fielder Armando Rios in left-center.
Walker led off the sixth with his sixth homer.
Despite three singles in the second, the Rockies failed to score as Pirates catcher Jason Kendall threw out two runners. Hollandsworth singled to open the inning but was caught stealing. Gary Bennett and Neagle also had singles, but Neagle, straying too far off first, was picked off by Kendall.
Notes: The Pirates purchased the contract of RHP Josias Manzanillo from Triple-A Nashville and designated INF Mendy Lopez for assignment. Manzanillo became the 13th pitcher on the roster. ... Rockies C Gary Bennett threw out his fourth consecutive would-be basestealer, Kendall in the second. It tied a Colorado record set by Henry Blanco twice in the 1999 season. ... The Rockies promoted Mike Gallego, their roving minor league infield coordinator, to the major league coaching staff. Gallego will assume various duties as he replaces Rich Donnelly, who resigned Monday. Bench coach Toby Harrah becomes the permanent third base coach.
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Rockies 6, Pirates 0 
