Rockies 6, Reds 5
DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies overcame another shaky outing Friday night by closer John Axford and beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 on a wild pitch with two outs in the ninth inning.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon bunted for a single, his third hit of the game. Reds third baseman Todd Frazier barehanded the ball, but Blackmon just beat his throw.
Blackmon was ruled out trying to steal, but the call was overturned. He moved to third when second baseman DJ LeMahieu grounded to second. With shortstop Troy Tulowitzki batting, Ryan Mattheus (1-2) threw a wild pitch that skipped away from catcher Tucker Barnhart, allowing Blackmon to score the winning run with a headfirst slide.
Reds first baseman Joey Votto tied the score at 5 against Axford (3-3) with one out in the top of the ninth when he hit his 18th home run of the season.
Axford blew his third save in 19 chances and his second in three outings. Axford had a 0.47 ERA in his first 20 appearances but an 8.71 ERA in his past 12. Votto's homer was just the second allowed by Axford this season.
Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez had tied the score at 3 when he led off the sixth with his 15th homer of the season. Two innings later, he homered off JJ Hoover to knot the score at 4.
Third baseman Nolan Arenado followed Gonzalez's second homer with a triple off the right-field wall and left fielder Corey Dickerson singled when Hoover was unable to pick up his slow roller. First baseman Ben Paulsen followed with a sacrifice fly that put the Rockies ahead for the first time in the game at 5-4.
Reds left fielder Marlon Byrd led off the eighth with a triple into the right-field corner off Rockies reliever LaTroy Hawkins. After Hawkins snared shortstop Ivan DeJesus' hard grounder and kept Byrd at third, he intentionally walked catcher Tucker Barnhart.
Pinch-hittter Skip Schumaker followed with a ground-rule double to put the Reds ahead 4-3. Center fielder Billy Hamilton missed a bunt attempt, and on the try for a safety squeeze, Barnhart ventured too far down the baseline, retreated and was thrown out. Hamilton then grounded out.
Reds starter Anthony DeSclafini gave up seven hits and three runs in seven innings. Rockies starter Eddie Butler allowed six hits and three runs in six innings.
Butler held the Reds to one single through three innings before they scored three runs in the fourth.
Second baseman Brandon Phillips led off with a double and scored on Frazier's one-out double down the left-field line. Byrd walked and Frazier stole third base before DeJesus then doubled home both runners to make it 3-0.
DeSclafini held the Rockies hitless until the fifth when they scored twice on four hits.
NOTES: Rockies LF Corey Dickerson (plantar fasciitis left foot) was reinstated from the disabled list, where he had been since June 17. ... Rockies LHP Rex Brothers was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque to make room for Dickerson. In three games since being recalled July 10, Brothers had a 6.75 ERA. ... Rockies RHP Christian Bergman (right shoulder inflammation) is scheduled to throw 35 pitches in a simulated game Saturday. If all goes well, Bergman will start Tuesday for Albuquerque and pitch three innings. ... Rockies RHP Brooks Brown (right shoulder inflammation) threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session. Barring a setback, Brown could face hitters and throw 25 pitches Monday at Chicago, where the Rockies play the Cubs. ... Reds LHP Tony Cingrani will join the Reds' rotation if they trade a starter. Cingrani, who started the second game of their doubleheader with the Cubs on Wednesday, was sent back to Triple-A Louisville to continue starting. ... Rockies 2B DJ LeMahieu extended his hitting streak to 14 games, tying his career high set in 2013.