Sky Sox losing streak, Giambi’s stay both history
Matt Murton put on a show for Jason Giambi, who bid farewell to his Sky Sox teammates Monday after eight days in Colorado Springs.
Murton went 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs as the Sky Sox snapped a four-game losing streak with an 11-4 win and won for the second time in nine tries on the season’s final homestand.
Giambi, the 2000 AL MVP, was promoted to the Colorado Rockies following the game as major-league rosters expand to 40 players today. Also called up were catcher Paul Phillips and relief pitchers Randy Flores, a left-hander, and righty Joel Peralta.
In six games, Giambi was 8-for-18 (.444) with six walks for a .583 on-base mark. He had two homers, four RBIs and four runs.
“The team was great to me and I got what I needed,” said Giambi, whose last game with the Oakland A’s was July 19. “I got some at-bats, saw a lot of pitches. I went in the cage early with (hitting coach Rene Lachemann), hit off the tee, soft toss. I’m ready to go. I just want to do what (the Rockies) need and help them win.”
Sky Sox catcher Sal Fasano, who played with Giambi in New York and Oakland, said the Rockies will benefit in several ways.
“Number one, Jason has playoff experience,” Fasano said. “He’ll take the burden off the young guys and put it on himself. He’ll talk to the media, he’ll get a big at-bat.”
Giambi had a bloop double to left-center in the first, grounded out and walked in three plate appearances. Murton, who was one shy of his career-high for RBIs, singled home Giambi in the first before slugging a three-run homer in the fifth and a two-run shot in the seventh.
“This was a big win,” Murton said. “We talked before the game and it wasn’t rah-rah but we made a commitment to playing winning baseball the last eight days. Whoever’s going to be here, we want to win.”
Murton, optioned down by the Rockies on Aug. 28, could be promoted when he’s eligible Sept. 7.
In a move made earlier in the day, Sky Sox catcher Edwin Bellorin was designated for assignment and placed on waivers, clearing a spot on the Rockies’ 40-man roster. Outfielder Paul McAnulty, activated by the Sky Sox from the disabled list, replaced Giambi in the sixth and singled and walked.
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