Rockies 10, Pirates 1
DENVER - Wilin Rosario homered and drove in four runs, and Michael Cuddyer had two hits and three RBIs as the Colorado Rockies routed the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-1 on Friday night.
Rosario and Nolan Arenado had three hits each for the Rockies, who had 16 hits to end a five-game skid.
Starling Marte had four hits for the Pittsburgh, which had its five-game winning streak snapped.
The loss spoiled Pirates manager Clint Hurdle's return to Coors Field, where he managed the Rockies from 2002-2009 and led them to a World Series berth in 2007.
He is looking for a return trip to the Fall Classic with the Pirates, who are on the verge of their first winning season and trip to the postseason since 1992.
Pittsburgh came into Friday having won 14 of its last 19 games - including a 9-2 homestand that ended with a sweep of Miami on Thursday -- to take a four-game lead in the NL Central.
The Rockies, on the other hand, have struggled. They returned home after a 1-9 road trip in which their offense went cold after scoring eight runs at Atlanta on July 29. They were held to two or fewer runs in seven of the 10 games, but broke out against Francisco Liriano (12-5).
By the eighth, the game was out of hand, and Hurdle used infielder Josh Harrison on the mound to get the final out of the inning. Harrison got pinch-hitter Corey Dickerson to fly out to left.
The game might have been closer had the Pirates taken advantage of early opportunities against Colorado lefty Jorge De La Rosa (11-6).
The Pirates loaded the bases in each of the first two innings but managed just one run, on a sacrifice fly by Jody Mercer in the second.
The Rockies, meanwhile, took out a lot of frustration out on the Pirates. They batted around in each of the first two innings against Liriano, who had been 9-2 since June 7 and had held Colorado to two hits over seven scoreless innings in Pittsburgh last weekend.
He looked like a completely different pitcher Friday, starting in the first inning.
Cuddyer drove in the first run with a single to right. Rosario followed with a two-run double and then scored on Todd Helton's single up the middle as six straight batters reached against Liriano.
They continued to batter him in the second. Cuddyer delivered another RBI single, Rosario smacked a two-run homer to left and Nolan Arenado laced a double to left-center field to highlight a five-run inning that made the score 9-1.
Liriano was pulled after one out in the third after walking Dexter Fowler and giving up a single to Troy Tulowitzki. Fowler scored on Cuddyer's groundout to give Colorado a 10-1 advantage.
Liriano allowed 10 earned runs on 12 hits and walked two in his shortest outing of the year.
NOTES: Pirates LHP Wandy Rodriguez (forearm) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session of 25 pitches Saturday. Manager Clint Hurdle said he will throw a mix of fastballs and changeups during the session. ... Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt (appendectomy) threw a light bullpen session Friday. He is expected to throw a simulated game next week. ... An MRI done on Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood's ailing left elbow revealed an impingement but no structural damage.
