CINCINNATI — Kyle Kendrick’s most impressive swing of the season earned him a weak groundout to first base Wednesday at Great American Ball Park.
His at-bat didn’t matter. That Kendrick was even allowed to hit in the eighth inning with two runners on hinted at how well he pitched. Kendrick threw one of the most efficient and effective outings the Rockies have seen this season, leading them to a 6-4 victory and their first series victory since sweeping the Giants in San Francisco in mid-April.
“He was locked in today,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “Throwing strikes, attacking. That’s as good as he’s been this year.”
Kendrick finished a season-high 71/3 innings on just 75 pitches. His final numbers weren’t sterling, five hits and four runs, but they bely how well he pitched. Through seven innings, Kendrick faced just three more batters than the minimum, and had allowed just one run.
Only five Rockies pitchers have completed a game on fewer than 90 pitches. Aaron Cook, who did it twice, holds the record — a 74-pitch victory over the Padres on July 25, 2007.
Kendrick’s quick, well-pitched effort was nearly as slim — if not complete. He entered the eighth inning having thrown just 61 pitches, the only damage coming on Todd Frazier’s solo home run in the first.
“Those first couple innings, I got some quick outs, ball was moving well, sinker was good,” said Kendrick, who improved to 2-6. “Getting early contact, quick outs — as a starter that’s what you’re trying to do.”
Kendrick, who signed a one-year, free-agent contract with Colorado before the season after eight years in Philadelphia, had not won since opening day, when he pitched seven shutout innings at Milwaukee. Since then, the Rockies were 1-7 with Kendrick on the mound. He was 0-6 with a 7.58 ERA in his past eight starts.
While he turned the corner against the Reds — Kendrick forced 11 outs with two or fewer pitches — the Rockies nearly let the right-hander down.
He gave up a lead-off homer to Tucker Barnhart in the eighth, then walked Skip Schumaker three batters later, after which Weiss removed him.
“A pitch count like that, I would have liked to finish the game,” Kendrick said. “But the walk kind of got away from me.”
Boone Logan was called upon in relief and walked the first two batters he faced, then gave up an RBI bloop single, making it 6-4. Rafael Betancourt relieved Logan to get the final out.
“He just struggled with the strike zone,” Weiss said of Logan.
Nolan Arenado’s three-run home run in the first inning off Reds right-hander Mike Leake gave Kendrick an early cushion. Charlie Blackmon’s two-run shot in the second boosted them even more.
John Axford closed in the ninth for the Rockies fourth win in five games. Axford is eight for eight in save opportunities.
“It felt like it was important, especially the way we’ve struggled in May, to start running off some Ws,” Weiss said. “We’ve been playing better. But it’s nice to be rewarded. You can play better and not always get wins.”
Nick Groke: ngroke@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickgroke
