PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer
DENVER (AP) — Ryan Ludwick couldn’t have picked a better time to be visiting Coors Field.
Hitless in his last 13 at-bats, the Cincinnati Reds outfielder broke out in a big way during a 7-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night. He had an RBI double in the second inning, a solo homer in the sixth and then, for good measure, a single in the ninth.
His swing is back on track — at one of his favorite parks, too, where he’s hitting .398 for his career.
Not that he felt his swing was really all that off.
“I think 0 for 13 is a little deceiving,” Ludwick explained. “I’ve had some good at-bats. I just haven’t gotten hits. It’s been a weird year and this is the first ball I’ve hit all year that I’ve gotten into it.”
He certainly did, lacing a homer off Jorge De La Rosa (12-8) that landed near the top of the stands in left.
“Today, I just happened to think along with him,” Ludwick said. “Lucky guess.”
For one night, though, Charlie Culberson looked a little bit like the shortstop he’s trying to replace in Colorado. He had the power of Troy Tulowitzki and the nifty moves, too — jumping out of the way of a shattered bat fragment to cleanly field a grounder.
“Not Tulowitzki,” cautioned Culberson, “but if they put (me) in the lineup, I’ll be ready to play.”
Culberson hit his first homer in more than a month — a three-run shot in the fifth — and De La Rosa pitched seven effective innings.
With Tulowitzki set for season-ending hip surgery Friday, Culberson and Josh Rutledge figure to receive plenty of playing time at shortstop. Culberson definitely made the most of his opportunity Thursday.
“Tulo is our guy,” Culberson said. “And shortstop is a big spot to fill. … I feel like both us can go out there and fill in.”
De La Rosa allowed three runs and five hits as he improved to 8-2 at Coors Field this season.
Not bad considering he tweaked his Achilles running to first in the second inning. But he came back out to pitch and didn’t miss a beat.
“It was bothering me a little bit,” De La Rosa said. “But I was able to keep pitching in pain. We’ll take care of that before my next start.”
Reds All-Star Alfredo Simon (12-8) is winless in six starts since the break. The converted reliever allowed seven runs — five earned — and a season-high 10 hits in five innings.
“He made some mistakes and they hit it hard,” Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said. “It’s just a matter of executing better pitches and having a better mix of pitches.”
Culberson broke the game open by lacing a 95 mph fastball from Simon into the left-field bleachers. It was his first homer since June 29.
FATIGUED SIMON?
Price doesn’t necessarily think Simon’s second-half slump is due to exhaustion.
“He still has the stuff to be successful. Unfortunately, he’s not having any success,” Price said. “He’s going to continue to get the ball. The only way to learn how to pitch a season as a starter is to pitch a season as a starter.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: RHP Homer Bailey is headed to the disabled list with a strained elbow. Price said he will announce a starter to take Bailey’s spot in the rotation Friday. There’s no timetable for Bailey’s return.
Rockies: OF Michael Cuddyer (broken left shoulder) could be back in the lineup Saturday. The reigning NL batting champ has been on the DL since early June.
UP NEXT
Reds: RHP Johnny Cueto (14-6, 2.05 ERA) can take over the NL lead in wins by beating the Rockies on Friday. Cueto is 6-0 in seven starts since losing at San Diego on July 2.
Rockies: LHP Franklin Morales (5-6, 4.97) will make his first career start against the Reds. He’s faced them five times as a reliever, going 2-0 with two saves.
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