The Rockies set a new club record for ineptitude on Tuesday, allowing the Reds to steal five bases in the second inning against starter Jorge De La Rosa and catcher Tony Wolters.
Things started when Jay Bruce knocked in a run with a fielder’s choice ground out when he came up with runners on the corners. Bruce then stole second base while Tyler Holt was batting. Holt ended up getting hit by a pitch to give the Reds runners on first and second with one out in a 1-1 game. With pitcher Robert Stephenson up, both Bruce and Holt succeeded on a double-steal attempt.
Stephenson ended up striking out, but Billy Hamilton brought home both runners on a double. Given his reputation, it was not shocking when Hamilton broke for third base and slid in safely while Zack Cozart was at the plate. Stolen base number four on the inning for the Reds. Cozart singled to bring home Hamilton. Eugenio Suarez kept the inning alive with a single, and he promptly stole second base for the fifth swipe of the inning. It went for naught as Joey Votto struck out to end the inning.
Citing Elias Sports, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post notes that five stolen bases allowed in one inning marks a new club record for the Rockies. The Reds official Twitter, also citing Elias, notes it’s the first time the Reds stole five bases in an inning since at least the 1920’s.