DENVER (AP) -- Juan Nicasio allowed three singles over eight innings and Mark Ellis had three hits, including a two-run homer, in his Colorado debut as the Rockies beat the slumping Kansas City Royals 9-0 on Friday night.
Troy Tulowitzki connected on a two-run homer, Todd Helton added a two-run double and pinch-hitter Charlie Blackmon lined the first homer of his major league career -- on his 25th birthday, no less -- to help the Rockies snap a two-game slide.
Nicasio (3-1) struck out four and got the Royals to hit into 16 groundouts. With his pitch count at 111, the rookie righty was pulled in the ninth for reliever Edgmer Escalona, who was just called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Friday.
The Royals lost their fourth straight.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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