Capps records yet another rocky outing
PITTSBURGH — The Colorado Rockies felt they were robbed of a tying run in the eighth inning. — so they went out and won it in the ninth.
Brad Hawpe's two-run homer was part of Colorado's three-run ninth inning and the Rockies rallied for a 3-1 victory over the Pirates Friday night.
Hawpe hit a 1-1 pitch from Matt Capps into the shrubbery beyond the wall in center field, scoring Ian Stewart, who led off the inning with a pinch-hit double. It was Hawpe's sixth homer and it gave him 11 RBI in his last five games.
"That's why you play the game, for fun moments and opportunities like that," Hawpe said. "You're not going to come through every time, but when you do, then you realize why you love the game."
The Rockies thought they had tied the game at 1 in the eighth on an apparent sacrifice fly by Troy Tulowitzki.
Left fielder Nyjer Morgan made a running catch and pumped a throw toward home then held onto the ball as Seth Smith sprinted down the line and crossed home plate. The Pirates appealed the play and third-base umpire Tim Welke called Smith out for leaving too soon.
Television replays did not conclusively show that Smith left early and Rockies manager Clint Hurdle argued the call to no avail.
"We did show a great deal of resiliency tonight," Hurdle said, "because we got ... that call. ... Calls are made, but an umpire in that position has got to be 100 percent sure on that call."
Capps (0-3) blew his second save in his last four outings. Making his third appearance since sitting out a week due to elbow fatigue, Capps has allowed nine runs and 15 hits in his last 4 2-3 innings.
"I thought I got it (inside) enough," Capps said of the fastball to Hawpe, who entered the game tied for fifth in the NL in RBI. "He put a good swing on it and hit it far enough."
Capps said he is not experiencing any arm pain, and his velocity — 94 mph on the home run, for example — is not lacking.
"He needs to get back on track, obviously," Pirates manager John Russell said. "He'll start hitting his spots and keeping the ball down. When he does that, he's very effective."
Alan Embree (1-1) earned the win with a scoreless eighth, and Huston Street struck out the side in the ninth for his fifth save.
Capps' blown save negated Paul Maholm's seven shutout innings, and took Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa off the hook for another tough-luck loss.
