Rangers' Teixiera joins elite company
Mark Teixiera's three-run homer in the ninth inning made him just the fifth player in major league history to hit 100 in his first three seasons and lifted the visiting Texas Rangers to a 10-7 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.Teixiera's 433-foot blast off Twins closer Joe Nathan capped a wild night at the Metrodome and allowed him to join Joe DiMaggio, Ralph Kiner, Eddie Mathews and Albert Pujols on the elite list.RED SOX 3, ANGELS 2: At Boston, David Ortiz hit a tie-breaking homer in the bottom of the ninth, and Tim Wakefield pitched his second complete game.WHITE SOX 6, ROYALS 5: At Chicago, Paul Konerko homered for the third straight game and Juan Uribe hit one for the second day in a row to lead the White Sox to their sixth consecutive victory.The White Sox stayed perfect in September, moving to 86-51 overall, the best record in the American League.DEVIL RAYS 4, YANKEES 3: At New York, second baseman Robinson Cano's error with one out in the ninth inning allowed the go-ahead run to score.INDIANS 6, TIGERS 1: At Detroit, Cliff Lee allowed four hits over eight shutout innings and Grady Sizemore, Coco Crisp and Aaron Boone homered to account for all of Cleveland's runs. Crisp had three hits and stole a base.ORIOLES 5, BLUE JAYS 0: At Baltimore, Daniel Cabrera came off the disabled list to throw seven innings of four-hit ball, and Javy Lopez drove in three runs.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
SMOLTZ OUTPITCHES MARTINEZ
John Smoltz outpitched Pedro Martinez, and Andruw Jones drove in two runs as the Atlanta Braves beat New York, 3-1, their second straight win over the Mets.Facing Martinez for the third time this season, Smoltz (14-6) won his second straight in the matchup of former Cy Young Award winners..
MARLINS 4, NATIONALS 2: At Washington, Luis Castillo went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs in a rare chance to lead off, and Ismael Valdez won for the first time in more than a month.The loss snapped Washington's three-game winning streak, just its second such run since July 4.
ASTROS 2, PHILLIES 1: At Philadelphia, pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett stole second and third then scored the go-ahead run on Jason Lane's RBI single in the ninth inning, lifting the NL wild-card leading Houston to a victory over the Phillies.
ROCKIES 6, PADRES 5: At San Diego, Colorado's Todd Helton reached base five times and scored twice, and San Diego catcher Miguel Olivo committed two critical errors.
CUBS 5, CARDINALS 2: At St. Louis, Glendon Rusch was perfect for six innings and pitched into the eighth for his first victory in more than two months and Derrek Lee hit his 40th homer on his 30th birthday and drove in two runs.
REDS 2, BREWERS 1: At Cincinnati, Javier Valentin's RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the Reds a victory.
DIAMONDBACKS 4, PIRATES 2: At Pittsburgh, rookie catcher Ryan Doumit's errant throw on a rundown play in the 12th inning got Pete Mackanin's managerial run in Pittsburgh off to a losing start.The Pirates dropped their fifth in a row, 10th in 11 games and 15th in 19 games, a slide that caused manager Lloyd McClendon to be fired earlier in the day.
Source: http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/
Loss demonstrates reason to catch on
San Diego - Here's what is new about the Rockies: a middle infield combo of Luis Gonzalez and Clint Barmes, Todd Helton's return to stardom and road trips that no longer seem as if Chevy Chase is at the wheel of the team bus.
Here are old issues that need to be addressed: a center fielder with power (top three candidates Cory Sullivan, Larry Bigbie and Choo Freeman haven't homered since Preston Wilson was traded), the addition of veteran relievers (perhaps a reunion of Mike DeJean and Jay Witasick) and the catching position.
General manager Dan O'Dowd confirmed Ardoin's return Wednesday. The question is, in what capacity?
On a night when Ardoin erased a baserunner to squash a rally and Closser airmailed a throw into center field, gift-wrapping a run, the Rockies were discussing what to prioritize at the position.
They prefer an offensive tilt for a team that by O'Dowd's admission needs to score at least 150 more runs next season. The ideal free agent was on display Wednesday in San Diego's Ramon Hernandez. He's a perfect fit. His contract - which could land from $15 million to $20 million - um, not so much.
That's why the Rockies are taking inventory of the Los Angeles Angels' Bengie Molina, who is enjoying a career year that could inflate his price; Texas' Rod Barajas, Seattle's Yorvit Torrealba and Cincinnati's Jason LaRue. The latter three aren't free agents.
Value becomes critical for a franchise that, despite growing perception to the contrary, is built to contend in 2007 more than next season. The Rockies don't want to overspend on a one-year contract for a layover player. As such, they could eschew an offensive force and emphasize defense for Ardoin to complement.
"There are a lot of things we are discussing," O'Dowd said. "We have to see how things play out (in the offseason)."
Ardoin has given them something to think about, given the impact of his skill set. He doesn't hit a lot - .227 average with three homers in 163 at-bats - but his glove has gone a long way in helping developing a young staff.
When Ardoin starts, the Rockies are 22-27 with a 4.69 ERA. By comparison, Closser and Todd Greene, unlikely to return because of injuries, are a combined 33-55 with a 5.43 ERA.
"Without a doubt, there's some anxiousness that I want to show I can be the No. 1 guy," Ardoin said. "But whatever role they decide, I believe I can be an asset."
As Wednesday's starter, Jeff Francis couldn't finish. Lacking command, the rookie exited after 14 outs, walking in the eventual winning run.
Adam Eaton returned the Padres to .500, a victory punctuated by Trevor Hoffman's 36th save as San Diego braces for Barry Bonds' return to the second-place San Francisco Giants.
"That's definitely something that's been talked about in our clubhouse," Hoffman admitted. "Whether we are 15 over .500 or one over, the bottom line is that we are in a race."
Source: http://denverpost.com/
Padres ride Eaton to home victory
SAN DIEGO - Adam Eaton is starting to look like he did back in the spring, when the San Diego Padres won with consistency.
Eaton earned his 10th victory and Mark Loretta homered and scored twice for the NL West-leading Padres, who beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2 on Wednesday night to get back to .500.
Eaton (10-3) won for the first time in three starts since coming off the disabled list for an injured middle finger on his pitching hand.
"I don't know how many months or days it's been," Eaton said. "It's nice to get back on the horse."
Eaton became a 10-game winner for the second consecutive year, although he's having a much better season than last year, when he was 11-14.
Eaton knows he'll be needed as the Padres to try to stay atop baseball's weakest division.
"It's a challenge I'm willing to take on fully," said Eaton, who trails teammate Jake Peavy by two victories. "If I can catch Jake in wins, obviously that would be a good thing. But at the same time I want Jake to get his wins, too. Right now it's a selfish time of the year for a pitcher. You want to get your wins; you don't want to have any losses."
The right-hander held the Rockies to two runs and five hits in six innings. He might have gone longer, but threw 114 pitches. He struck out five and walked one.
"The arm strength and stamina's there," Eaton said. "I felt good in the sixth inning, made some good pitches and got them 1-2-3. It's definitely nice to go out there in the sixth and put up a zero."
The Padres (69-69) took a six-game lead over San Francisco, which lost 9-8 at Los Angeles, in the division.
The Padres beat the last-place Rockies for only the second time in five games in San Diego since Aug. 26. Colorado's Todd Helton went 0 for 4 after reaching base five times and scoring twice in the Rockies' 6-5 victory on Tuesday night.
After Sullivan tripled with two outs in the eighth, Akinori Otsuka struck out Helton.
"I got some good pitches to hit, but I tried to do a little too much," said Helton, whose 26-game hitting streak against the Padres ended.
Colorado's Cory Sullivan had three hits, falling a homer short of the cycle, as the Rockies' four-game winning streak was snapped.
Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 36th save. It was his 33rd in a row, and the 429th of his career.
With the score tied at 2, San Diego's Xavier Nady was walked with the bases loaded by Jeff Francis (12-11) to force in the go-ahead run with two outs in the fifth.
Source: http://www.thedesertsun.com/
Weaver's effort helps lift Dodgers over Rockies
Weaver (12-8) allowed three runs - two earned - on six hits to improve to 4-0 in his last five starts. The 28-year-old righthander also struck out five and walked two. "Our momentum begins with the guy on the mound," said Dodgers manager Jim Tracy. "Jeff Weaver was terrific on the mound and at the plate tonight. We showed up with a lot of energy tonight, led by the guy on the mound." Oscar Robles finished 2-for-4 with a career-high four RBI for the Dodgers, who had a brief two-game losing streak stopped and won for only the second time in their last five games. Omar Quintanilla had two hits and knocked in a run for Colorado, which fell for the fourth time in its last six tries and for the eighth time in their last 11. After Jorge Piedra's solo home run gave the Rockies the lead in second, the Dodgers answered in the home half with three runs. Jayson Werth got things going for LA with a single and stole second. After Jose Cruz Jr. drew a walk, Werth scored when Dioner Navarro reached on an error. Following Jose Valentin's pop out, Weaver stroked a single to center to score Cruz. Robles then grounded out to first, but Navarro scored on the play and the Dodgers led 3-1. The Rockies got one of the runs back in the fourth, but the Dodgers again answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to go ahead by four. Navarro opened the home portion with a double. After Valentin walked, Weaver reached on a bunt single to load the bases for Robles, who stroked a three-run double to center to put Los Angeles up 6-4. Weaver capped his big night at the plate in the eighth with a two-run single. The Rockies closed out the scoring with a run in the ninth. Jamey Wright (6-15) was tagged with his fourth loss in his last four starts, as he allowed six runs - four earned - on seven hits in six innings. Game Notes LA outfielder Milton Bradley missed the game with a knee injury. However, prior to the game he made waves in the Dodgers locker room when he said teammate Jeff Kent does not know how to deal with African-Americans...Colorado infielder Luis Gonzalez left the game with a hand injury... The Dodgers, who took 11 of 19 contests from Colorado last year, have won seven of the first 11 meetings between the teams this season.
Source: http://www.wtev.com/
Happy Holliday: Rockies edge Dodgers in LA
Aaron Miles and Dustan Mohr each added a solo home run for the Rockies, who took two of three in this set and have won four of their last five overall. Aaron Cook (3-1) picked up the victory after he allowed two runs on eight hits in five innings of work. Oscar Robles drove in a pair of runs for the Dodgers, who have lost four of five. Brad Penny, who entered the contest with a 4-1 mark and a 2.49 earned run average at home this season, suffered the loss. Penny (6-8) permitted five runs on four hits, struck out eight and walked four over six innings. Also on Thursday, the Dodgers placed outfielder Milton Bradley on the 15-day disabled list due to a partially torn left patella tendon. Trailing by three runs, the Dodgers scored twice in the bottom of the sixth. With Colorado reliever Randy Williams on the mound, a pair of walks to Dioner Navarro and Jose Valentin started the frame before Antonio Perez's RBI single brought in Navarro. Robles then ripped a run-scoring double to right that cut the deficit to 5-4, but Scott Dohmann came on to stop the bleeding. He issued walks to Hee Seop Choi and Jeff Kent, but fanned Olmedo Saenz and Jayson Werth to close the inning. David Cortes worked two perfect innings in the seventh and eighth before Brian Fuentes tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his 23rd save of the campaign. Following a solo blast by Mohr in the second, the Rockies added three more runs in the top of the third. Cory Sullivan drew a two-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before another walk to Todd Helton. Holliday then stepped to the plate and belted his 13th home run of the season over the wall in center field for a 4-0 Colorado advantage. An RBI double by Robles in the home third put the Dodgers on the board. Miles led off the fifth with his second home run for a 5-1 lead, but LA fought back in the home half when Jayson Werth's RBI single scored Jeff Kent. Game Notes Penny is now 5-2 lifetime versus the Rockies...Los Angeles fell to 30-32 at home this season...To replace Bradley on the roster, the Dodgers recalled utilityman Mike Edwards from Triple-A Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League...The Dodgers outhit the Rockies, 10-5...Attendance was 40,019.
Source: http://www.wtev.com/
Helton powers Rockies past Dodgers
Garrett Atkins also homered and drove in four runs, while Aaron Miles went 2- for-4 with a two-run single to help the Rockies halt a two-game slide and hand Jeff Weaver his first defeat in nearly two months. Weaver (13-9) was torched for six runs and eight hits while serving up three homers in five innings. The righty had gone 6-0 in eight starts since a July 9 defeat at Houston and had won his last three outings, which included eight strong innings to defeat Colorado August 23 at Dodger Stadium. Rockies starter Sun-Woo Kim (4-2) fared much better, as the Korean import allowed one run and scattered six hits over 5 1/3 solid frames. Jose Acevedo worked the final three innings to record his first career save. Mike Edwards had a solo home run and Oscar Robles collected two hits and an RBI for Los Angeles, which had won four of five coming in. Helton gave the Rockies a quick 2-0 lead when he followed a first-inning walk to Cory Sullivan with a long drive into the right-field seats. The Dodgers would cut the deficit in half one inning later, as Edwards took Kim's pitch over the wall in left to open the frame. However, Atkins' 10th homer of the year put Colorado comfortably in front in the third. Sullivan and Brad Hawpe each singled in front of the three-run blast. Kim continued to hold Los Angeles' bats at bay, and Helton belted his 17th homer of the season in the fifth to extend the margin to five runs. Miles singled home Matt Holliday and Hawpe in the seventh to push the lead to 8-1, and the Rockies struck three more times during the eighth. Holliday plated Sullivan with an opposite-field double and Hawpe and Atkins lifted consecutive sacrifice flies to lengthen Colorado's advantage to 11-1. Consecutive singles by Jose Valentin, Jayson Werth and Robles in the ninth accounted for the Dodgers' second run. Werth later crossed the plate on Ricky Ledee's flyout to account for the final score. Hawpe, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game, finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored in his first action since July 9. He had been sidelined with a strained left hamstring. Shortstop Clint Barmes also returned to the Rockies lineup after missing nearly three months due to a broken clavicle. He went 0-for-5. Game Notes Helton compiled his 25th career multi-homer game, of which five have come against the Dodgers...Atkins' four RBI matched a career-high set June 28 against Houston and again on August 15 versus Milwaukee...Weaver is 0-2 with a 9.60 ERA in three starts at Coors Field this year...Taiwanese left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo made his major league debut for Los Angeles and was charged with two runs while issuing two walks in the eighth...Colorado also recalled pitcher Zach Day from Triple-A Colorado Springs before the game...The Rockies evened the season series at 7-7 with the win.
Source: http://www.wtev.com/
Rockies tip Dodgers 7-6 in 10 innings
DENVER - Brad Hawpe drove in the winning run with a single with one out in the 10th inning as the Colorado Rockies completed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 7-6 victory Sunday.
Cory Sullivan had four hits, including a leadoff double in the 10th. Matt Holliday drove in two runs with his 15th home run, and Omar Quintanilla doubled and had two RBIs.
Scott Dohman (2-1) worked a scoreless 10th inning for the win.
Sullivan led off the 10th with a double into the right-field corner off Duaner Sanchez (4-5). Todd Helton was intentionally walked and Sanchez struck out Holliday before Hawpe drove a 3-2 pitch to the wall in center to score Sullivan.
Jeff Kent hit his 13th career grand slam and Jason Phillips doubled and drove in two runs for the Dodgers.
Los Angeles (61-75) failed to pick up ground on the San Diego Padres (68-68) in the NL West. The Padres lost 3-2 in Milwaukee.
Trailing 6-2, Kent hit a grand slam off David Cortes to tie the game in the seventh inning.
The Dodgers loaded the bases when Hee-Seop Choi reached on a fielder's choice and Antonio Perez and Oscar Robles had infield singles. Kent hit 2-0 fastball over the fence in left for his 25th home run.
Colorado starter Zach Day started a two-out rally in the third inning with a single to left and Clint Barmes blooped a single over third base. Sullivan drove in both by lining a two-run triple over Jayson Werth's head in center.
Jose Cruz Jr. tied the game at 2 with a two-run single in the fourth inning after two outs. Olmedo Saenz singled past second base and moved to third on Phillips' double to right. Both scored when Cruz slapped a singled in the hole between first and second.
Colorado regained the lead on Quintanilla's two-out, two-run double in its half of the fourth. Los Angeles starter Edwin Jackson walked Holliday and J.D. Closser and Quintanilla lined a double to the wall in left.
Holliday extended the lead to 6-2 with his home run with Sullivan aboard in the fifth inning.
Notes@: Wilson Alvarez will throw a bullpen session Monday. ... Ricky Ledee pinch hit in the eighth inning, but was held out of the starting lineup a second game with soreness in his left hamstring. The Rockies donated revenues from the walk-up sales to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. ... Quintanilla made his first start at second base. ... Garrett Atkins has a 10-game hitting streak.
Source: http://www.kentucky.com/
Rockies recall Day to make start
DENVER (AP) -- The Colorado Rockies recalled Zach Day from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Sunday, and the right-hander started against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Day was 2-3 with a 5.89 ERA in seven starts at Colorado Springs. He had been optioned there on July 25.
"We want to see his command, we want him to utilize his pitches," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "We also want to see him use his two-seam fastball and sinkerball."
Day was acquired along with outfielder J.J. Davis on July 13 from Washington in exchange for outfielder Preston Wilson and cash considerations.
Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/
Rockies tip Dodgers 7-6 in 10 innings
DENVER - Brad Hawpe drove in the winning run with a single with one out in the 10th inning as the Colorado Rockies completed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 7-6 victory Sunday.
Cory Sullivan had four hits, including a leadoff double in the 10th. Matt Holliday drove in two runs with his 15th home run, and Omar Quintanilla doubled and had two RBIs.
Scott Dohman (2-1) worked a scoreless 10th inning for the win.
Sullivan led off the 10th with a double into the right-field corner off Duaner Sanchez (4-5). Todd Helton was intentionally walked and Sanchez struck out Holliday before Hawpe drove a 3-2 pitch to the wall in center to score Sullivan.
Jeff Kent hit his 13th career grand slam and Jason Phillips doubled and drove in two runs for the Dodgers.
Los Angeles (61-75) failed to pick up ground on the San Diego Padres (68-68) in the NL West. The Padres lost 3-2 in Milwaukee.
Trailing 6-2, Kent hit a grand slam off David Cortes to tie the game in the seventh inning.
The Dodgers loaded the bases when Hee-Seop Choi reached on a fielder's choice and Antonio Perez and Oscar Robles had infield singles. Kent hit 2-0 fastball over the fence in left for his 25th home run.
Colorado starter Zach Day started a two-out rally in the third inning with a single to left and Clint Barmes blooped a single over third base. Sullivan drove in both by lining a two-run triple over Jayson Werth's head in center.
Jose Cruz Jr. tied the game at 2 with a two-run single in the fourth inning after two outs. Olmedo Saenz singled past second base and moved to third on Phillips' double to right. Both scored when Cruz slapped a singled in the hole between first and second.
Colorado regained the lead on Quintanilla's two-out, two-run double in its half of the fourth. Los Angeles starter Edwin Jackson walked Holliday and J.D. Closser and Quintanilla lined a double to the wall in left.
Holliday extended the lead to 6-2 with his home run with Sullivan aboard in the fifth inning.
Notes@: Wilson Alvarez will throw a bullpen session Monday. ... Ricky Ledee pinch hit in the eighth inning, but was held out of the starting lineup a second game with soreness in his left hamstring. The Rockies donated revenues from the walk-up sales to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. ... Quintanilla made his first start at second base. ... Garrett Atkins has a 10-game hitting streak.
Source: http://www.kentucky.com/
Colorado Springs 9, Fresno 8
(AP) --
Jeff Salazar hit two solo home runs to help the Colorado Springs Sky Sox wrap up the season with a 9-8 win over the Fresno Grizzlies on Monday.
It was a quick-paced game, with both teams apparently eager to end the season. The first inning lasted just eight minutes.
The Sky Sox (65-78) had 12 hits and committed no errors while the Grizzlies (68-76) had 15 hits and two errors.
Ryan Shealy went 3-for-4 with one RBI for the Sky Sox and Ryan Spilborghs added a home run.
Doug Clark went 3-for-4 with two runs, no RBIs for the Grizzlies and Eliezer Alfonzo hit a home run.
Wilton Chavez (5-7) got the win and Mitch Wylie (3-5) got the loss for the Grizzlies. Matt Anderson earned his ninth save of the season despite giving up two runs in the ninth inning.
The Sky Sox led 9-6 at the beginning of the 9th but, with two outs, Brian Munhall came in to pinch hit and drove in two runs to bring the Grizzlies within one run. The game ended after Alfonzo hit a pop up.
Fresno (69-75) finished second in the Southern Division of PCL's Pacific Conference. Colorado Springs (64-79) finished last in the Pacific Conference's Northern Division.
Source: http://www.sfgate.com/
Rockies 6, Padres 5
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Padres sure didn't look like a first-place team on Tuesday night.
Catcher Miguel Olivo committed two critical errors and the NL West-leading Padres walked 10 as they lost 6-5 to the last-place Colorado Rockies. Colorado's Todd Helton reached base five times and scored twice.
The Padres (68-69) again dropped below .500, making this the latest in a season a team has led a division with a losing record.
"We shot ourselves in the foot a couple innings there, and that was the difference in the ballgame," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We fought hard to try to get back to winning the game, and came close, but bottom line is we didn't play well tonight."
But the Padres remained five games ahead of San Francisco, which lost 4-2 to Los Angeles in 12 innings.
Olivo committed a pair of two-base errors in the seventh that allowed the Rockies to score two unearned runs and take a 6-0 lead. San Diego then rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh before pulling to 6-5 in the eighth. San Diego's Mark Loretta had four hits and two RBIs.
Rockies closer Brian Fuentes walked two batters with two out in the ninth to load the bases before striking out Khalil Greene to earn his 26th save in 29 chances.
The last-place Rockies, coming off a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers, have won three of four games in San Diego since Aug. 26. Each team committed three errors.
Cory Sullivan drew a leadoff walk in the Rockies' seventh and took third on Olivo's errant pickoff throw that skipped past first baseman Robert Fick and into the right field corner. Helton walked, and Matt Holliday hit a sacrifice fly to left. Ryan Klesko's throw home was up the first-base line. After Olivo fielded it, he turned toward home, then, inexplicably, instead of throwing the ball back to the pitcher, flipped it to a bat boy near the Padres' dugout. Helton was waved in from second base.
Olivo wasn't at his locker when the clubhouse was opened to reporters.
Bochy, a former big league catcher, wasn't able to explain Olivo's actions.
"I guess he thought the play was dead and he was throwing the ball out," Bochy said. "I don't know why. I think we were probably as surprised as anybody.
"He just didn't call time out before he threw the ball away. You have to, and it's something he'll learn from, but that inning he made a couple of mistakes there that cost us a couple of runs."
The Padres pulled to 6-4 in their half of the inning before Eric Young struck out on a checked swing with runners on first and third. The Rockies committed two errors in the inning. Loretta hit a two-run, bases-loaded single, Dave Roberts had an RBI single and pinch-hitter Ben Johnson had an RBI grounder.
Joe Randa led off the Padres' eighth with a triple to the gap in right-center and scored on Greene's sacrifice fly.
Helton, who's hitting .452 against San Diego this year, had three hits, two walks and drove in a run. Right-hander Aaron Cook (4-1) won his fourth straight decision. He allowed six hits and two runs, one earned, in six innings.
"We didn't play our best," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "We wobbled out of the bullpen, we got six runs on six hits and 10 walks, which probably wasn't very artistic from an offensive standpoint, but we played better than the other team tonight."
The Rockies had two two-out rallies against Chan Ho Park (4-2), whose three-game winning streak ended.
Helton doubled with two outs in the first to start a three-run rally. Park walked Holliday and Brad Hawpe to load the bases before Garrett Atkins hit a two-run, broken-bat blooper that fell in between shortstop Greene and second baseman Loretta. Luis Gonzalez drove in the third run when he reached on an infield single to shortstop.
Park struck out the first two batters in the fourth, then walked Clint Barmes, who took third on Cory Sullivan's single to right and scored on Helton's single to right.
Park allowed four runs and six hits in five innings, struck out five and walked four.
Notes: Padres ace Jake Peavy had his sore right shoulder examined on Tuesday. He's due to pitch in the bullpen on Thursday and then be re-evaluated. He's currently scheduled to start at Los Angeles on Saturday. ... Rancho Buena Vista, which finished third in the Little League World Series, was honored before the game. Padres owner John Moores gave the players gloves embroidered with their names.
Source: http://www.kentucky.com/
Padres 4, Rockies 2
SAN DIEGO - Adam Eaton is starting to look like he did back in the spring, when the San Diego Padres won with consistency.
Eaton earned his 10th victory and Mark Loretta homered and scored twice for the NL West-leading Padres, who beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2 on Wednesday night to get back to .500.
Eaton (10-3) won for the first time in three starts since coming off the disabled list for an injured middle finger on his pitching hand. His last win came on June 9, against Cleveland, and he was hurt in his following start, at Detroit.
"I don't know how many months or days it's been," Eaton said. "It's nice to get back on the horse."
Eaton became a 10-game winner for the second straight year, although he's having a much better season than last year, when he was 11-14.
Eaton knows he'll be needed as the Padres to try to stay atop baseball's weakest division.
"It's a challenge I'm willing to take on fully," said Eaton, who trails teammate Jake Peavy by two victories. "If I can catch Jake in wins, obviously that would be a good thing. But at the same time I want Jake to get his wins, too. Right now it's a selfish time of the year for a pitcher. You want to get your wins; you don't want to have any losses."
The right-hander held the Rockies to two runs and five hits in six innings. He might have gone longer, but threw 114 pitches. He struck out five and walked one.
"The arm strength and stamina's there," Eaton said. "I felt good in the sixth inning, made some good pitches and got them 1-2-3. It's definitely nice to go out there in the sixth and put up a zero."
The Padres (69-69) took a six-game lead over San Francisco, which lost 9-8 at Los Angeles, in the division.
The Padres beat the last-place Rockies for only the second time in five games in San Diego since Aug. 26. Colorado's Todd Helton went 0-for-4 after reaching base five times and scoring twice in the Rockies' 6-5 win on Tuesday night.
After Sullivan tripled with two outs in the eighth, Akinori Otsuka struck out Helton.
"I got some good pitches to hit, but I tried to do a little too much," said Helton, whose 26-game hitting streak against the Padres ended.
Colorado's Cory Sullivan had three hits, falling a homer short of the cycle, as the Rockies' four-game winning streak was snapped.
Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 36th save. It was his 33rd straight, and the 429th of his career.
With the score tied at 2, San Diego's Xavier Nady was walked with the bases loaded by Jeff Francis (12-11) to force in the go-ahead run with two outs in the fifth. Loretta forced Eric Young at second, took third on Joe Randa's double, and, after Brian Giles walked, scored on Nady's walk.
"I was confident I could throw that pitch for a strike," said Francis, who walked Nady on a curveball. "He froze on it. If I could drop that ball in there, we're not even talking about that pitch."
San Diego got an insurance run in the seventh when Brian Giles drew his 100th walk - tops in the majors - stole second and took third on a throwing error by catcher J.D. Closser, and scored on a wild pitch.
Loretta gave San Diego a 2-0 lead with his leadoff homer to left in the third, his second. Rookie Ben Johnson hit an RBI double in the second.
Colorado tied it in the fourth on two-out RBI singles by Brad Hawpe and Luis Gonzalez.
Francis lost for the fourth in five decisions. He lasted 4 2-3 innings, allowing three runs and seven hits, walking five and striking out three.
Notes: The last Padre to walk 100 times in a season was Rickey Henderson with 125 in 1996. ... Padres manager Bruce Bochy said there's a 50-50 chance Peavy, who has a sore right shoulder, will make his scheduled start Friday night at Los Angeles. Bochy said Peavy felt a lot better Wednesday, but the team won't decide until after Peavy throws on Thursday. ... Padres C Ramon Hernandez was back in the starting lineup for the first time since July 24 in Philadelphia. He had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left wrist on July 29, and came off the disabled list on Friday.
Source: http://www.kentucky.com/
Eaton wins as Padres top Rockies
Adam Eaton (10-3) picked up his first win since June 9 with six strong innings. He yielded two runs on five hits, mixing in a walk with five strikeouts. "It's the little things that are going to get us into the postseason," Eaton said. "We have done a lot of little things right. I get focused on who I am going to face and just worry about ourselves." Mark Loretta homered and Ben Johnson knocked in a run for the Padres, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Jeff Francis (12-11) was saddled with the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. The young lefthander walked five and struck out three. Brad Hawpe and Luis Gonzalez each registered an RBI for the Rockies, who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end. With the score knotted at 2-2 in the fifth, Joe Randa laced a one-out double that moved Loretta to third, who reached on a force out. Brian Giles was then walked by Francis to load the bases. Khalil Greene was unable to drive in a run, as he struck out, but Nady got a free pass to force in the go-ahead run. Giles manufactured the Padres final run of the game, reaching base with a free pass in the seventh before he stole second and advanced to third on the throw. Giles eventually scored on a wild pitch by Rockies reliever Ryan Speier, staking the Padres to a 4-2 lead. Trevor Hoffman pitched a perfect ninth inning to nail down his 36th save of the season. The Padres jumped in front with a run in the second inning on Johnson's RBI double. Nady, who reached base with a single, scored on the play. Loretta put the home club ahead 2-0 with his leadoff homer in the following frame, but Colorado tied the game with two runs in the fourth. Cory Sullivan stroked a ground-rule double to start the frame and scored three batters later on Hawpe's base hit. After a Garrett Atkins single, Gonzalez plated Hawpe with his base hit to right, tying the game at 2-2. Game Notes Eaton improved to 7-1 in eight home starts this season...Francis fell to 4-7 in 14 road starts this year...Atkins has a 12-game hitting streak...The Padres are 38-32 at home this season...San Diego is 8-5 versus the Rockies this season, including a 5-3 home mark.
Source: http://www.wtev.com/
