CINCINNATI — Sensing that Jorge De La Rosa wasn’t paying attention, the Reds were off and running.
Jay Bruce had two of the Reds’ five steals in the second inning off De La Rosa — their biggest inning on the bases in roughly a century — and Cincinnati held on for a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.
Brandon Phillips had four hits, and Billy Hamilton doubled home two runs during Cincinnati’s four-run second inning off De La Rosa (1-2). The inning included those record five steals off the left-hander’s slow move to the plate. The Reds hadn’t stolen so many bases during an inning since at least the 1920s, per information provided by the teams from the Elias Sports Bureau.
“A rarity, like an eclipse,” Bruce said.
De La Rosa was having trouble getting his fastball to go where he wanted, so he started throwing more change-ups and ignoring runners, who took off at every opportunity. It was the most steals that the Rockies had ever allowed in an inning.
“I lost my concentration,” De La Rosa said. “I wasn’t paying attention to the runners. I have to do a better job than that.”
Rookie Robert Stephenson (2-0) got his second win as an injury fill-in, called up from Triple-A earlier in the day because scheduled starter Alfredo Simon has a strained biceps.
Cincinnati Reds’ Billy Hamilton slides into third base with a steal against the Colorado Rockies during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2016/04/web1_109876538-f13425230bbf43fcb62bedaf9b5773ad.jpgCincinnati Reds’ Billy Hamilton slides into third base with a steal against the Colorado Rockies during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa (29) throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2016/04/web1_109876538-6e79263f5ac145ccbb60cbcdb8a507c3.jpgColorado Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa (29) throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) reacts to a triple off of Colorado Rockies pitcher Chris Rusin during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Cincinnati. To the rear is Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2016/04/web1_109876538-2f59643af8ec4c8997795957b795e67b.jpgCincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) reacts to a triple off of Colorado Rockies pitcher Chris Rusin during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Cincinnati. To the rear is Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
