Saved By The Bell: Bucs backed by Josh Bell's four hits in rout of Rox

DENVER – The Colorado Rockies defense fell apart, Jeff Hoffman had another rough home start and the offense could only do so much. The Pittsburgh Pirates took advantage of all this en route their sixth consecutive comeback win in a 13-5 rout.

The Bucs plundered 18 hits, raised the jolly roger and absolutely sunk Jeff Hoffman and the Rockies.

The Rockies had a brief lead in this game, driving in three on four hits in the first. Charlie Blackmon walked, DJ LeMahieu doubled, Nolan Arenado singled to drive one in, Gerardo Parra drove another in on a base knock then too did Carlos Gonzalez. But the three merely answered the Pirates who scored two in the first frame themselves.

The Bucs nabbed four base hits off of Hoffman, the only one really hit hard was by rookie first baseman Josh Bell. Bell answered the, well, Bell once more in the second inning with a back breaker for Hoffman. First, it was a four pitch walk to the opposing pitcher Trevor Willams that started a Pirates’ rally, a hit by a pitch and another walk issued juiced the bases for Bell, who drove two in with a hard hit single. Another run was brought home by David Freese and the Pirates were out in front 5-3.

The third saw the Rockies luck out because a bad misplay by Charlie Blackmon led Francisco Cervelli to the races, fortunately for Colorado, he is the Pirates catcher and not speedy so he stayed 90 feet shy of an inside the park homer. Hoffman worked around the leadoff triple as he got two grounders with the infield in to stop the Pirates chance. But the Rockies rookie was soon on his way out.

He got into trouble again in the fourth. A leadoff double by Josh Harrison raised the sails and Andrew McCutchen left the dock and singled to drive in one. Bell was next and he singled, again, this time chasing Hoffman from the game. Jordan Lyles came in and got Freese into an 0-2 count then hit him with a pitch. Gregory Polanco knocked in one on a fielder’s choice but left with left hamstring discomfort. Lyles then forced Cervelli into an 0-2 count before he hit him. Lyles would escape by getting Jordy Mercer to ground into a double play.

Lyles made it a bit messier getting into a jam and allowing one to come across in the fifth. He allowed his league worst (for a reliever) home run No. 11, which drove in tow and pushed the Bucs to a seven run lead.

Arenado hit a solo homer deep into the night in the sixth to cut it back to six. This was pretty much the highlight for the Rockies on Friday.

The Pirates touched Scott Oberg for two more in the seventh and were up top by eight. Pat Valaika showed more prowess pinch hitting, socking a double to get a run back for the Rockies in the seventh.

It wouldn’t matter and the final would be 13-5 after the Pirates added one off of Jairo Diaz in the ninth.