Rockies give up 6 runs in 9th, fall to Reds for fifth-consecutive loss

The Rockies drove in seven runs, smashed two home runs and, at one point, held a four-run lead.

It still wasn’t enough against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday afternoon.

With two outs in the ninth inning, the Reds hit two home runs, including a grand slam from second baseman Jonathan India, as Colorado lost, 12-7, and extended its losing streak to five games.

The Rockies were up 7-6 when pitcher Jalen Beeks was asked to secure the victory out of the bullpen. After Beeks hit Reds center fielder TJ Friedl to start the inning, he got two quick outs. But things quickly went south.

Beeks gave up a go-ahead two-run home run to Reds first baseman Spencer Steer, then loaded the bases before getting replaced by Angel Chivilli, who gave up the home run to India that had fans at Coors Field heading for the exits after the Reds all but secured a series sweep.

“I went (fastball) top zone (and Steer) put a good swing on it,” Beeks said. “I’m confident in my fastball been, so that was a tough one to swallow.”

The Rockies aggressively attacked Reds starter Graham Ashcraft, driving in four runs on five hits in the opening frame. Colorado recorded three straight singles to load the bases before designated hitter Elias Diaz drove in a run on a ground out. Second baseman Brendan Rodgers added to the scoreboard with a two-run single. With Rodgers at second, Elehuris Montero belted an RBI single to take a four-run lead.

Ashcraft was taken out of the game after allowing six hits and recorded two strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

Before Colorado’s scoring outburst in the bottom half of the first, starting pitcher Dakota Hudson avoided a potential meltdown. The Reds had runners on the corners with no outs, but catcher Jacob Stallings caught Elly De La Cruz trying to steal second. Hudson then struck out Jeimer Candelario before third baseman Ryan McMahon leaped to catch a line drive from Spencer Steer to get out of the jam.

Colorado, however, started to see its lead slip away in the third when Candelario hit a moonshot two-run homer to right field, cutting Colorado’s lead to 4-2. Hudson continued to struggle with his command in the top of the fifth when he gave up a lead-off walk, then Friedl smashed a game-tying two-run home run.

Hudson gave up four runs on five hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings before manager Bud Black replaced him with reliever Victor Vodnik.

“The ball-strike ratio wasn’t great, almost 50-50,” Black said. “That’s tough sledding when you’re pitching out of the stretch a little bit.”