Jordan Lyles, Troy Tulowitzki steal the show in Colorado Rockies win over Texas Rangers

May 5, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jordan Lyles (24) reacts to closing out the top of the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

After failing to complete the four-game sweep of the New York Mets Sunday afternoon, the Rockies bounced right back in a 8-2 victory over the Texas Rangers led by Jordan Lyles and Troy Tulowitzki.

After a Carlos Gonzalez double to lead off the top half of the second inning, Nolan Arenado would clean the bases with a two-run home run to left to put the Rockies up 2-0 early. To go along with that two-run shot, Arenado would extend his hitting streak to 25-games; two short of Michael Cuddyer for the team record (27 games). Jumping ahead to the bottom half of the third, Carlos Gonzalez would ground out to first, scoring Brandon Barnes to take a three-run lead.

Drew Stubbs would have himself a night with the bat as the righty roped a double to right to put a runner in scoring position for Troy Tulowitzki. Tulo would unload on a two-run home run to right, giving the Rockies a 5-0 lead. The Rangers would get on the board in the sixth after a lead-off double from Shin-Soo Choo, who would advance to third on the error from Drew Stubbs. Josh Wilson would groundout to short to bring him in, reducing the lead to four.

Colorado would get that run back and then some in the seventh as Troy Tulowitzki would hit his 2nd, two-run shot of the night to push the Rockies lead to six; not bad for the reigning NL Player of the Month. Drew Stubbs would drive in Jordan Lyles in the eighth on a sacrifice fly to right field, giving the Rockies an 8-1 lead.

The night would belong to starting pitcher Jordan Lyles however as he dominated the Rangers lineup from start to finish. The right-hander would throw eight spectacular Monday night, giving up seven hits, two runs, two earned, one walk while striking out five. He would give up a leadoff single to Adrian Beltre in the ninth as Walt Weiss wasted no time, pulling him for reliever Nick Masset who made his Rockies debut. Masset was a little shaky as he hasn’t pitched in the bigs since 2011, giving up an RBI single to Mitch Moreland which was charged to Lyles.

Notable Rockies Hitters:

• Brandon Barnes: 2-for-5, 2 2B’s, 1 R.
• Drew Stubbs: 3-for-4, 2 2B’s, 2 R.
• Troy Tulowitzki: 2-for-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB.
• Carlos Gonzalez: 2-for-5, 2 2B’s, 1 RBI.
• Nolan Arenado: 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI. (25-gm hit streak)

Rockies Pitching:

• Jordan Lyles (W, 4-0): 8.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO. 104 pitches, 71 strikes.
• Nick Masset (Rockies debut): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB.

The Colorado Rockies (20-14) continue rolling, defeating the Texas Rangers, 8-2. They will be back at it tomorrow as the Rangers toss out lefty Robbie Ross (1-2, 3.86 ERA) against Rockies righty Juan Nicasio (3-1, 4.19 ERA)