Editor’s note: Cincinnati pitcher John Lamb pitched the best game of his young career Wednesday night as the Reds beat the Colorado Rockies. The following is a report on that game.
DENVER (AP) — John Lamb kept the hard-hitting Colorado Rockies inside the park. He even has the bruise to prove it.
The left-hander overcame a liner off his left leg to throw a career-high seven innings and help the Cincinnati Reds beat the Rockies 7-2 on Wednesday night.
Lamb (1-3) surrendered one run and didn’t allow the Rockies to go deep a night after they tied a franchise record with seven homers.
“Extremely impressed in large part because of what he saw happen a day ahead of him,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “He saw a lot of runs scored, seven home runs.
“Sometimes, that’s some bad feedback to have to witness before you go make a start. … You’ve got to overcome things like that. He did in a big fashion.”
For that, Lamb credits preparation. He’s always been a pitcher that’s relied more on his arm than his film study. But he took a crash course on Colorado hitters and the video session helped him make the proper pitches Wednesday.
“It gave me a little bit more hope and optimism with my stuff,” Lamb said. “That’s a fully open and honest version of why I would hope nights like tonight would continue to happen.”
There was a scary moment in the fourth when Ryan Raburn’s liner drilled Lamb near the hip. Lamb went down to a knee for a moment and stretched out his leg before resuming.
“It’s sore,” he said. “But I wanted to be out there. Physically, I could feel it, but didn’t take much out of what I was doing. Just happy I could stay out there.”
Lamb was hit in a similar fashion last month, too.
“I’m wondering if I’ve got a magnet in me or something,” Lamb said. “I’m starting to realize I have a glove, though.”
It’s been a tough series for Reds pitchers. On Tuesday, Jon Moscot was grazed in the right ear by a fastball while trying to lay down a bunt.
Billy Hamilton hustled out two doubles, including one that brought in two runs, and also had a single. Jay Bruce added a solo homer to power the Reds.
Tyler Chatwood (6-4) gave up five runs, four earned, in 5 2/3 innings.
“He wasn’t real crisp,” manager Walt Weiss explained. “Location was a little off, especially with the fastball. Got in a lot of tough counts. Wasn’t as sharp as we’ve seen him lately.”
Lamb settled into a groove after a rocky first inning in which he allowed an RBI double to DJ LeMahieu. Lamb has been banged up at times this season, starting the year on the disabled list as he recovered from December back surgery. He also was bothered by a sprained left thumb.
“It’s been a roller-coaster ride,” Lamb said. “I’m glad to be on it. Hope to balance this out a little bit. But at the same time, I’m not going to look too much into it.”
A beleaguered Reds bullpen allowed one run after Lamb left, when Carlos Gonzalez knocked in a run on a groundout.
Apparently, the Rockies used up their big hits the night before when they broke team marks for extra base hits (14) and total bases (47) in a 17-4 win.
Charlie Blackmon extended his streak of reaching base to 27 games with two singles and a hit by pitch. Gonzalez didn’t go deep, ending his string of four straight games with a homer.
“I think we were successful because we were aggressive (Tuesday),” Blackmon said. “We were aggressive today. We just didn’t get the hits. There’s no formula. “
TRAINER’S ROOM:
Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips missed a second straight game with a sore left foot. “If it was up to him, he would play,” Price said. … RHP Michael Lorenzen (sprained elbow) threw two innings in an extended spring training game Tuesday. “Everything worked out just beautifully,” Price said.
Rockies: LHP Boone Logan (shoulder inflammation) could soon head out on a rehab assignment. The Rockies are hoping to have him back for the Dodgers series in Los Angeles next Monday.
