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Huge 10th inning lifts Rockies over Tigers

Jun 16, 2012 - 5:23 AM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Wilin Rosario's 10th-inning chopper scored two runs and started a eight-run rally to give the Rockies a 12-4 win over the Detroit Tigers in the first game of a three-game set.

Chris Nelson drove in three runs on a triple and a home run for the Rockies, who snapped an eight-game losing streak with the win.

Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer added back-to-back home runs in the 10th to cap off the Rockies' 10th-inning scoring barrage.

Jose Valverde (3-2) took the loss after allowing six runs -- two earned -- in the 10th inning on three hits and two walks.

"[Valverde] was our best option, and that's what we used," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said about bringing in his closer.

Prince Fielder picked up two hits and knocked in a run for Detroit, which had won four of its previous five games.

Cuddyer led off the 10th with a seeing-eye single through the right side. Eric Young Jr. then tried to sacrifice him to second. Valverde hesitated and threw high to first base and Fielder was unable to make the grab. Valverde then intentionally walked Todd Helton and Jordan Pacheco grounded into a fielder's choice at the plate. But Rosario hit a chopper just over the head of shortstop Jhonny Peralta to score two and break the tie.

After Dexter Fowler and Marco Scutaro delivered a sacrifice fly and RBI single, respectively, to add to the lead, Gonzalez broke the game open with a three-run shot. Cuddyer then followed with a homer to left to cap the scoring.

"Our offense, up and down the lineup, made a contribution offensively," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "You have to laud the effort."

Colorado started the scoring with two runs in the third. After Rosario led off with a base hit, Nelson tripled to the right-center field gap to score him. Nelson then came around to score when Fowler laced a double down the left- field line to give the Rockies a 2-0 lead.

Detroit countered with three runs in the bottom of the third. Bryan Holaday legged out a double to start the inning. Austin Jackson knocked him home with double to the left-field corner, then scored when Miguel Cabrera lined a double past Pacheco at third. Fielder singled up the middle to score Cabrera and give Detroit the lead.

The Rockies regained the lead on Nelson's opposite-field, two-run home run that just cleared the right-field fence.

The Tigers tied the game at four in the sixth inning when a Brennan Boesch groundout scored Holaday.

The Rockies' bullpen pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings and only allowed one hit to keep the game tied and close out the win. Matt Belisle (3-2) earned the win after tossing two scoreless frames.

Both starting pitchers struggled. Colorado's Casey Crosby allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings and Jeff Francis gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings. Both received a no-decision.

Game Notes

The Rockies went 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position...Fielder is hitting .374 (43-for-115) over his last 30 games...Cabrera has knocked in 30 runs in his last 34 games...Colorado is 14-8 all-time against the Tigers...The Rockies won their first interleague game in 10 tries.