Rockies Rout Diamondbacks, Red Sox Get Rings but Fall to Brewers

On Friday, the Colorado Rockies (2-3) routed the Arizona Diamondbacks (1-6), 12-2 and saw its centerfielder Charlie Blackmon tie a team record with his six hits.

Blackmon went 6 for 6 with five RBIs on three doubles and a two-run home run–a record for the MLB; he scored four times during the game, designating himself as the only Rockies player to do so since July 3,1995 by Andres Galarraga.

The player said of the game via the Associated Press, “When you get an opportunity to play, it’s really nice to come up and contribute.”

Blackmon, who is now hitting .563, may have also played his way into a starting role after Rockies coach Walt Weiss had not previously awarded it to him. He had been rotating between him, Corey Dickerson and Drew Stubbs but said Blackmon will get the starting nod on Saturday.

Charlie Blackmon

Carlso Gonzalez had a productive day with his two-run triple and two-run home run. Righty Juan Nicasio (1-0) gave up one run and four hits over his seven innings of pitching; he allowed a solo home run to Mark Trumbo in the fifth inning.

For the Diamondbacks, amid his team getting off to their worst start in franchise history since 1998, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt still had a good day. His RBI single in the eighth inning expanded his hitting streak to 26 straight games. For his team, it represents the second-longest streak in history, coming in four behind the record set by Luis Gonzalez set during an April 11 to May 18, 1999 period.

For the 2013 season, Goldschmidt had hits over 19 straight games and in this short 2014 season, he has already hit one in seven consecutive games. In 2013, Rockies outfielder Michael Cuddyer, the NL’s top batter last season, had a hit for 27 straight games from May 28 through June 30.

As for the rest of the Diamondbacks, righty Randall Delgado (0-1) allowed six runs and 10 hits over his four innings on the mound.

Perhaps help could be on the way for the team as it claimed outfielder Roger Kieschnick from the San Francisco Giants off of waivers. The news came on Friday and the team made room for him after placing pitcher Patrick Corbin on the 60-day DL and assigning Kieschnick to its Reno Triple-A team.

Kieschnick’s assignment came after his spring training stat line from 29 at bats read .172/.294/.172 and in 95 appearances at the plate last season, it included .202/.295/.226.

On Saturday, the Diamondbacks will try to turn things around in Game 2 of this weekend series against the Rockies. Righty Brandon McCarthy (0-0) will take the mound vs. the Rockies lefty Jorge De La Rosa (0-1).

Colorado gets another win (-126, 9.5 o/u).

In other MLB Friday play, the Boston Red Sox (2-2) received their World Series rings at their Fenway opener. This followed their earlier appearance this week at the White House.

Jake Peavy

Unfortunately for the home team, it wasn’t an all-around memorable day as the Milwaukee Brewers (2-2) defeated them 6-2. Losing its home opener isn’t usual for Boston’s as it is tied with the Cincinnati Reds (1983-91) for the third-longest streak in MLB  history for victories on opening day (11).

Entering the ninth inning at a 2-2 game, the Brewers busted it open with four hits to take the win. Brandon Kintzler (1-0) was the winning pitcher with his scoreless inning while righty Marco Estrada got things started with 5 2/3 innings of pitching; righty Jake Peavy took the mound for Boston over six innings. Both pitcher allowed two hits.

Ryan Braun was not greeting warmly by Red Sox Nation as he received boos each time he went to the plate on 0 for 5 play. Friday’s game represented his first road one after last season’s suspension of 65 games.

In Game 2 of this weekend series, righty Wily Peralta will take the mound for Milwaukee while righty Clay Bucholz will pitch for Boston.

The home team gets the win (-185, 8.5 o/u).