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Spilborghs, Rockies thrash Brewers

Jul 15, 2011 - 6:26 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Ryan Spilborghs led off the bottom of the first inning with a homer and finished with four hits and knocked in four runs, as the Rockies started the post All-Star break with a 20-hit effort in 12-3 thrashing of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Mark Ellis had three RBI and Cole Garner notched a pair of runs batted in for Colorado, which won for the third time in four games. Ty Wigginton had three hits and scored three times.

Ubaldo Jimenez (5-8) pitched six solid innings, giving up six hits and a pair of runs. It was the second home win (2-5) of the season for the right-hander.

It was another dud for Yovani Gallardo (10-6) at Coors Field as Milwaukee opened an 11-game West Coast trip with its seventh loss in eight road games. Gallardo was pounded for 11 hits and six runs over four innings. He's 0-2 with a 10.07 ERA in four lifetime games in Denver.

"I just wasn't able to put away guys when I really needed," Gallardo said.

All-Star Game MVP Prince Fielder doubled in a run in the first inning and Corey Hart homered in the ninth in defeat.

Ryan Braun went 2-for-4 to extend his career-best hitting streak to 23 games, which is now third-best on the franchise list behind Paul Molitor (39 in 1987) and Dave May (24 in 1973).

Spilborghs tied the game with a homer high off the pole down the left field line and the teams exchanged runs in the second from the pitchers -- on a Gallardo RBI double and a Jimenez single.

Colorado went ahead with a four-run fourth. Ian Stewart, who had three hits, double and scored on a Chris Iannetta base hit to right. One out later, Spilborghs singled up the middle for a 4-2 lead. He stole second and came in on an Ellis base hit before Troy Tulowitzki roped a two-out RBI double to center.

"Our patience with Gallardo tonight is definitely noteworthy," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "We took some very tough at-bats, got some really good counts."

Ellis doubled in a run in the sixth and the Rockies padded their lead in the seventh. Fielder dropped a foul pop off the bat of pinch-hitter Cole Garner, who ended up walking to force in a run.

Kameron Loe entered from the bullpen in relief of Zach Braddock, but Spilborghs drilled a two-run double to left and Ellis followed with an RBI groundout.

Garner singled in a run in the eighth before Hart's 11th homer of the year concluded the scoring in the opener of this four-game set.

Game Notes

Second base umpire Brian O'Nora left after the top of the first inning due to back spasms. The umpiring crew was reduced to three, but Cory Blaser took over at second base in the fourth inning...Braun missed the last eight games before the All-Star break with a left calf strain...The Brewers dropped into second place in the NL Central, a half-game behind St. Louis...Milwaukee swept a three-game series at home from the Rockies, May 20-22.