Rockies use Bucs as playoff booster

Tuesday’s 9-2 loss was in
Denver.

DENVER (AP) — Ian Stewart was hoping he’d at least drive in a run when he came to bat with the bases loaded.

Maybe he was being a bit cautious with his expectations.

Stewart hit a third-inning grand slam in his ninth career at-bat — one of four Colorado home runs — and the Rockies overpowered the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-2 on Tuesday night.

“I knew I hit it well, but I didn’t know I hit it that well,” Stewart said. “I was hoping it would go over his head, or worst-case scenario he catches it and we get a run home.”

Other homers

Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe also homered for the Rockies, who closed to within 2 1/2 games of NL wild-card leaders San Diego and Philadelphia.

Closing the gap in the playoff chase was more important to Stewart than his home run.

“We needed this,” he said. “We’ve had a couple of tough games the past couple of days, and this is big. If we can put together a streak, win four or five in a row, we might be close to the top of the wild card.”

Tony Armas (2-4) retired the first six batters he faced before Yorvit Torrealba and Jamey Carroll led off the third with singles. After pitcher Elmer Dessens put down a successful sacrifice bunt, Ryan Spilborghs walked and Stewart drove a 2-1 pitch to left to make it 4-1.

“He stayed with it,” Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said.

The Rockies have hit seven grand slams this season, extending the club record for a single season.

About Stewart

Stewart, who was called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Aug. 11, is the third rookie this year to hit a grand slam for his first major league homer. Houston’s Hunter Pence did it May 5 at St. Louis, and Danny Richar of the Chicago White Sox did it Friday at Toronto.

“I gave him a pretty good pitch, a curveball away, and he hit it out of the ballpark. You can’t do much about that,” Armas said. “Lance Berkman got me like that in a game with Houston. That’s the second time a guy hit a good pitch out.”