Rockies Smack Six Homers to Win All-Or-Nothing Effort

JOHNSTOWN, Colo. -- It was a homer-happy homecoming, but not for the birds.

They hacked seven hits as a whole. The Rockies (26-7) hammered six home runs, doubling up the Owlz (11-22) with 14 hits. 

It's the most home runs the Owlz have allowed in a game this season, and now NoCo has lost five straight.

And make it seven losses in a row against the Rockies, who flashed their firepower fast. The first three hits starter Austin Schneider (L, 2-6) surrendered all left the ballpark. 

Grand Junction found its first homer on the first pitch of the game. Three at-bats later Grand Junction gained a three-run lead. The second batter of the second inning launched one too. 

Schneider settled in for a while after that by retiring six in a row. But a Baltimore chop and a bloop double broke that streak, sending runners into scoring position in the fourth. And then ... another homer. And then an inside-the-park homer the very next at-bat. 

After the fourth, Schneider's start ended. That gave way to LJ Diaz, who yielded back-to-back doubles and some balls to the backstop that plated another pair of Rockies runs. 

From there, Diaz dazzled in his debut. He struck out seven, five of which came in a six batter span smack in the middle of his three inning outing. Diaz did allow another, making it three earned runs in his first game in NoCo colors. 

Tyler Fischer fanned three in his two innings of work. He gave up the final big fly of the affair, giving Grand Junction its final run of this 13-2 triumph.

Collectively, a better night on the bump than it may appear. Sure, all the homers happened, but the staff set a new season high with 15 total K's. Other than the homers, it allowed just two extra-base hits - those doubles off of Diaz. 

The problem was production on offense. Or, rather, a lack thereof. The Owlz struck out 16 times, tying a team-high mark for the season. 

It's happened three times. The Rockies are responsible for two of them.

One of the newest Rockies, Ian Kahaloa (W, 1-0), set his own season high with 13 strikeouts in his start. The heat-hucking Hawaiian threw 96 pitches in six innings and walked only one batter.

Actually, these teams issued just three combined walks alongside their 31 collective K's. Relatively efficient effort from all the arms.

Much less efficient night from the Owlz offense. But it had its moments.

Alex Jackson jacked his own homer in the first inning, giving him nine on the year. That's a new team high, too. Abdel Guadalupe laced a liner off Kahaloa's glove for a base hit in the third, scoring Euro Diaz. Those two provided the Owlz only RBI of the evening. 

Guadalupe and Tim Bouchard banked two hits apiece. It's the fifth-straight multi-hit game for Bouchard, who hit one of the Owlz three extra-base hits on the night. Jackson's dinger and Ronnie Allen's double account for the others. 

The red hot Rockies return to Nelson Farm Park to tango in game two of this three-game set. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.

Snag yourself a seat, all of which are just $10, and we'll see you then!