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Gonzalez homers again, Rockies sweep Astros

Jun 1, 2012 - 6:38 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Carlos Gonzalez helped Colorado wrap up a four- game sweep of Houston with a three-run home run in a 11-5 win on Thursday.

Just one night after hitting three home runs, Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with three runs scored. He finished the series 11-for-18 with four homers, eight RBI and seven runs scored.

Michael Cuddyer added three hits, three RBI and two runs scored while Marco Scutaro hit a solo home run for the Rockies, who have won six of eight.

Jeremy Guthrie (3-3) benefited from the run support as he gave up five runs on 12 hits over seven innings.

"We got a solid outing from (Guthrie) and we continued to swing the bats," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy.

J.D. Martinez hit a solo home run while Jose Altuve added three hits and an RBI for the Astros, who have lost six straight.

Bud Norris (5-2) was torched for nine runs in just 1 2/3 innings as he lost for the first time since April 24. He was 4-0 with a 1.17 earned run average in May coming into the game.

Colorado wasted little time grabbing the lead as Gonzalez continued with his hot batting in the first inning. After the first two batters reached base, Gonzalez blasted a shot over the wall in left four his fourth home run in as many at-bats, the first time ever for a Rockie.

The team wasn't done, though, as Todd Helton and Jordan Pacheco each hit an RBI double and the Rockies had a 5-0 lead.

"We have done some significant offensive damage over the first innings of games here over the last 10 ball games," continued Tracy.

After Martinez hit a solo shot in the second to get Houston on the board, the Rockies added four more in the bottom of the inning.

With two on and one out, Cuddyer drove home both runners with a double and came home when Wilin Rosario singled. An RBI single later in the inning from Pacheco made it a 9-1 contest.

Houston got three runs back in the fourth. Jason Castro hit an RBI triple and scored on a Justin Maxwell double. Altuve later singled in Maxwell to make it a 9-4 game.

The Rockies, though, got one back in the fourth on an RBI single from Cuddyer and Scutaro led off the sixth with his second homer of the year for an 11-4 lead.

Carlos Lee's RBI groundout in the seventh accounted for the final score.

Game Notes

Colorado won five of seven from Houston this season...Colorado hosts Los Angeles for three games starting on Friday...Houston returns home to face Cincinnati for three games starting on Friday...Gonzalez raised his average to .332 on the season and has 14 homers and 44 RBI...Before the game, Colorado placed shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on the 15-day disabled list and activated infielder Chris Nelson from the 15-day disabled list.