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Tulowitzki, Rockies pound Braves 12-3

Jul 20, 2011 - 6:40 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Troy Tulowitzki smashed a three-run homer and Dexter Fowler clubbed a three-run triple to pace the Rockies' powerful offense in a 12-3 drubbing of the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field.

Carlos Gonzalez added a two-run shot and Seth Smith had a triple and three RBI for the victors, while Chris Iannetta chipped in with an RBI double.

Ubaldo Jimenez (6-8) worked 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on seven hits while fanning nine and walking two for the Rockies, who snapped their three- game losing streak after dropping the opener of the series on Monday.

"We need to get hot, this is the chance for us," Gonzalez said. "This is when the Rockies play better baseball, at the end of the season. We still have a lot of games left and have to prove to people we're a really good team."

Dan Uggla cracked a pair of solo homers for the Braves, who dropped their first game of the season to Colorado after winning the previous five contests.

Brandon Beachy (3-2) was rocked in 4 2/3 innings, giving up six runs on nine hits while walking five and striking out three.

"Each pitch I had full confidence I was going to throw the pitch and get the guy out, it just didn't happen," Beachy said.

Colorado took the lead in its first at-bat and cruised from there. Gonzalez led off the inning with a walk and Todd Helton ripped a double to left to put two runners on base with one down. Tulowitzki followed with his 18th homer deep into the left field seats to spot the Rockies a 3-0 lead.

The Rockies extended their lead to 5-0 in second when Fowler slapped a one-out single and Gonzalez followed two batters later by crushing a pitch from Beachy over the wall in right-center field for his 14th home run of the season. Smith had an RBI double in the third.

Atlanta got on the board in the fourth on a leadoff homer from Uggla to pull the Braves within 6-1.

Uggla clubbed his second bomb of the game to dead center field in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 6-2.

The Rockies added four more runs in the sixth when Helton drew a walk and Smith ripped a ball off the wall in center field for a triple to score Helton for a 7-2 lead. Iannetta and Chris Stewart walked to load the bases and Fowler cleared them with another triple to give the Rockies a 10-2 advantage.

Colorado added another two runs in the seventh. Helton led off the inning with a walk and Tulowitzki followed with a single to put runners on the corners with one out. Smith then lofted a sacrifice fly to center to score Helton and Iannetta followed two batters later with an RBI double to center to give the Rockies a 12-2 lead.

Atlanta picked up a run in the eighth on an RBI groundout by Eric Hinske.

Game Notes

Atlanta leads the season series with the Rockies by a 5-1 margin and leads the all-time series 97-58...Uggla has reached base safely in 16 of his last 20 games...The Rockies are 30-40 against right-handed starters this season...Uggla's home runs give him 17 for the season...Smith smacked his sixth triple of the year, tying him for fifth in the National League....Jimenez has won five of his past six decisions.