Helton’s Two Homers Derails Reds In Colorado.

Friday night found the Reds struggling with the future hall of famer Todd Helton as he did a number on Reds pitching clubbing two pairs of three run home runs as the Reds fall to the Rockies 9-6 on Friday Night at Coors Field in Colorado in the first game of a three game set.

With the loss, the Reds failed to gain ground in the National League Central, while the Cardinals lost sole possession of first place in the division with a loss to the Pirates.

Bronson Arroyo was on the mound for the Reds, dodged a big first inning after allowing a lead off triple, a double and a walk to the first three batters. After DJ LeMahieu scored lead off

Aug 30, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo (61) reacts after giving up six earned runs in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

hitter Corey Dickerson with a double, Arroyo walked Troy Tulowitzki but caught a break as catcher Ryan Hanigan threw out LeMahieu on an attempt to steal third on ball four. Arroyo got a double-play to end the inning with only surrendering that only run.

The Reds came back the next inning right away. Jay Bruce lead off with a walk from  Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa, and after Todd Frazier grounded into a fielder’s choice, Zack Cozart and Hanigan hit back-to-back singles to tie the game.

Reds took the lead in the fourth inning thanks to the bottom of the order producing again. Frazier led off with a double down the left-field,and after Cozart grounded out to first, Hanigan plated his his second RBI of the night with a single to right a 2-1 lead at that point.

But the Rockies went off in the bottom of the inning, with Tulowitzki beating out a chop ball to third and next batter dropping a short fly to left to for a single. Helton launched his first homer of the game, a towering blast into right just like the Rockies up 4-2.

They weren’t done a Nolan Arenado singled to left, Charlie Blackmon  single to center, and Charlie Culberson doubled them both home on a drive to left that Ryan Ludwick misjudged the ball, charging in as the ball just eluded his grasp. Arroyo finally retired his first batter in the inning De La Rosa, the seventh batter of the inning, for the first out but was relieved for Alfredo Simon. Final line for Arroyo not a good one : 3.1 IP, 9H, 6ER, 1BB, 1SO as he falls to 13-10 overall in the season.

Ludwick brought the Reds within three with a two-out homer to left in the fifth inning for his second home run of the season, but the Reds had opportunities on the base paths in every inning, they only settle  for three runs off of De La Rosa in six innings.They scored three runs in the ninth but it was too little toolate.

Simon pitched 1 2/3 scoreless ball, but Logan Ondrusek gave up three more runs on three straight hits in the seventh, with Helton hitting  his second three-run blast.

Tonight’s pitching match up will be Greg Reynolds for the Reds facing off against his old ball club and the Rockies will counter with Juan Nicasio. First pitch from Coors is at 8:10pm.