Bad blood part of series opener between Colorado and Arizona

The Rockies didn’t appreciate some of Justin Upton’s actions.

PHOENIX (AP) — In Troy Tulowitzki’s view, Justin Upton was out of line not once but twice.

First, Upton stared down Jeff Francis, the winner in Colorado’s 5-1 victory over Arizona in the opener of the NL championship series Thursday night, after getting plunked by a changeup in the seventh inning.

Then, he rolled his right shoulder into second baseman Kaz Matsui while trying to break up a double play, which resulted in an interference call that ignited an eight-minute delay when rowdy fans threw bottles onto the field.

Tulowitzki’s anger at Upton wasn’t for taking out Matsui. He did take exception, however, to Upton staring down Francis, who outpitched Arizona ace Brandon Webb and allowed just one earned run on seven hits in 62⁄3 innings.

“There’s a man on first, no one’s out. It was a change-up. The last thing Jeff’s trying to do is hit a guy,” Tulowitzki said.

Down 5-1, Arizona put runners at first and second with no outs in the seventh. Augie Ojeda bounced to third baseman Garrett Atkins, who threw to second baseman Matsui.

Upton, running from first base, slid over second base and then rolled his right shoulder into Matsui’s left leg, knocking the infielder to the ground. Second base umpire Larry Vanover immediately called Upton out for interference, resulting in a double play.

The crowd at Chase Field disagreed and a few fans threw bottles onto the field from the upper deck, and then more followed far down the foul lines. Some of them landed near Rockies players, and crew chief Tim McClelland cleared the field as Hurdle gestured in pulling his team off the field.

COLORADOARIZONA

abrhbiabrhbi

Tveras cf5110CBYng cf2000

Corpas p0000Drew ss4110

KMtsui 2b5111Byrnes lf4021

Hlliday lf3110CJcksn 1b4010

Helton 1b4110Rynlds 3b3000

Atkins 3b3010CSnydr c4010

Hawpe rf3022Upton rf2000

Tlowzki ss4010Salazar ph1000

Trralba c3100Ojeda 2b4010

Francis p2000Webb p2010

Herges p0000JuCruz p0000

Affeldt p0000Slaten p0000

Fentes p0000Cirillo ph1010

Sllivan cf1000Nippert p0000

Pena p0000

Mntero ph1010

Totals33583Totals32191

Colorado013000100—5

Arizona100000000—1

E—CJackson (1). DP—Colorado 3, Arizona 1. LOB—Colorado 6, Arizona 8. 2B—Byrnes (1), CSnyder (1). SB—Taveras (1), KMatsui (1). S—Francis.

IPHRERBBSO

Colorado

Francis W,1-06 2-371114

Herges000010

Affeldt1-300000

Fuentes110002

Corpas110000

Arizona

Webb L,0-1674424

JuCruz2-301021

Slaten1-300000

Nippert110002

Pena100003

Herges pitched to 1 batter in the 7th. HBP—by Francis (Upton), by Francis (Reynolds). WP—Webb, JuCruz. PB—CSnyder. Umpires—Home, Tim McClelland; First, Mark Wegner; Second, Larry Vanover; Third, Tom Hallion; Left, Angel Hernandez; Right, Jim Joyce. T—3:12. A—48,142.