DENVER -- For one night, Charlie Culberson looked a little bit like the shortstop hes trying to replace. 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, Ill be ready to play." Culberson hit his first homer in more than a month -- a three-run shot in the fifth -- and Jorge De La Rosa pitched seven effective innings to lift the Colorado Rockies over the Cincinnati Reds 7-3 on Thursday. 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 (12-8) 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 didnt miss a beat. "It was bothering me a little bit," De La Rosa said. "But I was able to keep pitching in pain. Well take care of that before my next start." Reds All-Star Alfredo Simon (12-8) is winless in six starts since the break. He allowed seven runs -- five earned -- and a season-high 10 hits in five innings. "He made some mistakes and they hit it hard," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Its 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. The shortstop also flashed his fielding prowess by sidestepping a piece of Todd Fraziers broken bat to field the ball and throw out Frazier by a few steps. "The bat went further than the ball," Culberson said. "Those things happen. Just got to roll with it." Charlie Blackmon broke a 2-all tie in the fourth when he drove in a run on a groundout. Drew Stubbs followed with an RBI single against his former team. Both runs were unearned after Simon threw the ball away trying to turn a double play. "Its good to see some things we did offensively, that weve been struggling to do," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. CARGO DONE FOR SEASON Shortly after the game, the Rockies announced that outfielder Carlos Gonzalez will have season-ending surgery on his left knee Monday. Its been an injury-riddled year for Gonzalez, who is on the disabled list with not only an aching left knee but a sprained right ankle. He was out earlier this season after doctors found and removed a small tumour in his left index finger. BACK ON TRACK Ryan Ludwick was hitless in his last 13 at-bats before breaking out with an RBI double in the second. He added a solo homer in the sixth off De La Rosa that landed near the top of the stands in left. "Today, I just happened to think along with him," Ludwick said. "Lucky guess." TRAINERS ROOM Reds: RHP Homer Bailey is headed to the disabled list with a strained elbow. Price said he will announce a starter to take Baileys spot in the rotation Friday. Theres no timetable for Baileys 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. Hes faced them five times as a reliever, going 2-0 with two saves. Furkan Korkmaz Jersey . Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas appeared to be on track to gain election from the Baseball Writers Association of America on Wednesday, and Craig Biggio could join them. Chris Webber Jersey .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at LeBron James and the Miami Heat winning their second straight NBA championship. https://www.cheap76ers.com/1026e-kyle-oq...rsey-76ers.html. Bibeau, Torontos sixth-round pick at No. 172 overall in last years draft, was named the outstanding goaltender of the 2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup. Nick Young Jersey . JOHNS, N. Philadelphia 76ers Pro Shop . Starters, when they struggle, have to live with it for five days. For Sergio Santos and Steve Delabar, two of the three men who authored one of the ugliest pitched innings in Blue Jays franchise history on Thursday night, the bounce-back chance came right away. NEW YORK -- Reliever Kyle Farnsworth has agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Mets and will report to spring training as a non-roster player. The 37-year-old right-hander was 3-1 with two saves and a 4.70 ERA in 48 games last year with Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, which signed him in August after he was released by the Rays. His fastball averaged 95-98 mph early in the season, according to fansgraphs.com, then dropped to 92-96 mph later in the year. Farnsworth would get a $1 million, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster and could earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses. He could make $500,,000 based on games: $75,000 each for 40, 45, 50 and 55, and $100,000 apiece for 60 and 65.dddddddddddd He also could earn $1 million based on games finished: $100,000 each for 30 and 35, $250,000 apiece for 40 and 45, and $300,000 for 50. Farnsworth has a 43-63 record with 54 saves and a 4.26 ERA and 945 strikeouts in 960 innings. Hes pitched for the Chicago Cubs (1999-04), Detroit (2005, 2008), Atlanta (2005, 2010), the New York Yankees (2006-08), Kansas City (2009-10), Tampa Bay (2011-13) and Pittsburgh (2013), and had a career-high 25 saves for the Rays in 2011. His agreement was announced Monday. ' ' '