Rockies lose 10-7 to Diamondbacks on Astini News

DENVER — Center fielder Dexter Fowler is establishing himself as a key contributor as the season winds down for the Colorado Rockies. Pitcher Esmil Rogers is still trying to find his way.

Fowler homered from both sides of the plate Monday, but Rogers was hit hard in Colorado's 10-7 loss to the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Rockies have lost six straight against Arizona, which improved to 12-4 in the season series against the division rival.

Fowler continued his surge since being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on July 15. He has four homers in six games after going 382 at-bats without a home run before his first this season on Aug. 30.

The 25-year-old Fowler connected in the first and the ninth for his first career multihomer game. He went 3 for 5 for his third straight multihit game.

Since returning to the Rockies in mid-July, Fowler is batting .314 (61 for 194) with four homers, 20 RBIs, 15 doubles, 10 triples and 42 runs scored.

"We saw a lot of good things in September a year ago," manager Jim Tracy said. "We saw hits. We saw hits in front of outfielders. We saw some infield hits. We're getting a bunch of hits now, and the ball is being driven a lot from both sides of the plate."

When he returned to the Rockies, Fowler, at the suggestion of hitting coach Carney Lansford, began to employ a leg kick while batting left-handed. When the Rockies were in Arizona a week ago, Lansford suggested Fowler also try the leg kick from the right side.

Fowler said he's able to keep his hands and body back better using the leg kick as a timing mechanism.

"It simplifies everything," Fowler said. "You see the ball and hit the ball. I had a lot of moving parts before."

Rogers (6-5) was charged with six runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings. The right-hander dropped to 0-4 with a 6.83 ERA in his last five starts.

Justin Upton homered for Arizona in the first, and the Diamondbacks added two more in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead.

Rogers issued a leadoff walk to Paul Goldschmidt before Aaron Hill doubled to put runners on second and third. Geoff Blum then hit a two-run single to center.

Rogers also walked the leadoff hitter in the third and fifth. Tracy said: "Not only will not work against a club like this, it won't work, period. And Esmil has to be very, very mindful of that."

Arizona pushed across five runs in the sixth to break open a close game. Blum led off with his second homer of the season, giving the Diamondbacks a 4-2 lead. Collin Cowgill singled and one out later pitcher Wade Miley walked, chasing Rogers.

Willie Bloomquist greeted Josh Roenicke with an RBI single to right and Gerardo Parra reached on a fielder's choice. Roenicke hit Upton to load the bases and Goldschmidt drove a three-run double down the left-field line to make it 8-2.

"Sooner or later, you have to see growth in that area," Tracy said, referring to Rogers' lack of consistency and inability to put innings down and minimize damage. "And he's been here with us for a little while. This is not his first go around in the big leagues. He's been at this a little bit, so he should be grabbing a hold of this concept a little bit quicker than a couple of the other guys we have or will have in that dugout."

Miley (3-1) posted his longest start of the season while beating the Rockies for the second time in less than a week. He gave up two runs and six hits, struck out six and walked three. He also drove in a run in the seventh to give Arizona a 9-2 lead.

The Rockies made it interesting with a two-out rally against Micah Owings in the ninth. Trailing 10-3, Fowler went deep, and Mark Ellis and Carlos Gonzalez walked before Troy Tulowitzki hit his 29th homer to dead center.

Brian Shaw came on and struck out Kevin Kouzmanoff to end the game.

"We walked guys and threw the ball down the middle to Tulowitzki," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "It's not what you want to do but we got through it."

NOTES: Ellis hit a leadoff drive in the third for his fourth homer. ... Rockies 1B Todd Helton didn't play for the second straight day due to back stiffness. ... Rockies INF Jonathan Herrera is likely done for the season. He caught his hand in a door Sunday night and said he has a broken right index finger and might have ligament damage in his right pinkie. ... Triple-A Colorado Springs reliever Jim Miller, infielder Chris Nelson and catcher-infielder Jordan Pacheco will join the Rockies on Tuesday, along with Double-A Tulsa catcher Wilin Rosario and left-handed starter Drew Pomeranz. Tracy said Pomeranz, who threw 46 pitches and worked three perfect innings Monday, will not be activated right away.

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September 05, 2011 08:41 PM EDT

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