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Kouzmanoff, Padres rally, beat Rockies in 10 innings

Apr 9, 2007 - 12:41 AM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- After needing a game-winning hit in the ninth inning to beat the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, Kevin Kouzmanoff and the San Diego Padres waited an extra frame to do it again.

Kouzmanoff hit a one-out single in the bottom of the 10th inning off reliever LaTroy Hawkins as the Padres rallied to beat the Rockies, 2-1.

Jose Cruz Jr. hit a game-tying solo homer in the eighth inning and relief pitcher Scott Linebrink (1-0) pitched a 1-2-3 10th to earn his first victory for the Padres (4-2), who have won their first two series for first-year manager Bud Black.

"If we could figure out how to get a key hit earlier or score early, we'd do it," Cruz said. "It's weird how that just works out, but winning cures everything."

With one out in the bottom of the 10th, Khalil Greene tripled to right-center field on an 0-2 pitch off Hawkins before Kouzmanoff hit a pitch that just went under the glove of first baseman Todd Helton to plate Greene.

"We played a great game today and it was exciting to get that game-winning hit," Kouzmanoff said. "The only thing I was thinking was to get a good pitch to hit, and I got it and just hit it the other way. It was a good job on Khalil's part to get that triple."

"By the time I turned around, the ball was already in right field," Hawkins said of the winning hit. "It was on the ground so I knew we had a chance, but then I saw it in the outfield."

Hawkins (0-2) allowed two hits for the beleaguered Colorado bullpen, which has been subpar in surrendering 10 runs in 14 2/3 innings.

"I don't think we are struggling," Hawkins said. "A little luck plays into it. You have to make your pitches, but we'll get there. It's just how the game is."

It was San Diego's second straight game-ending hit. Adrian Gonzalez delivered an RBI double in a 3-2 win over Colorado on Saturday.

"It just goes to show the character of these guys," Black said. "They know the game is 27 outs. The pitchers hang in there and the hitters keep having good at-bats. It's just staying in there and playing to score a run late or two or whatever it takes, our guys are doing it."

The loss wasted an outstanding effort by Rockies starter Aaron Cook, who had shut down the Padres until one mistake spoiled the effort.

Cook was cruising along through 7 2/3 innings, allowing only a leadoff double to Josh Bard in the second and a one-out double to Marcus Giles in the sixth, before surrendering the two-out blast by Cruz in the eighth.

"It felt like everything was working," Cook said. "I was able to use my changeup a lot to righties and lefties, and was able to throw my breaking ball for a strike. It was just one of those days where everything seemed to work out for me except for one pitch."

It was Cruz's first homer of the season and 199th career.

"The home run pitch was a 2-1 changeup," Cruz said. "I saw it well and took a rip at it and hit it just far enough."

Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Brad Hawpe plated Garrett Atkins with a single to center field.

Padres starter Jake Peavy yielded one run and five hits while striking out three and walking two in seven innings.

"I knew if I could keep it close, keep it 1-0 and give us a chance, the boys would come through," Peavy said.

"Jake was very good," Black said. "He went up against a guy who was on. Cook was outstanding, and Jake matched him. Both those starting pitchers, from what I've seen in a short look, have got to be two of the top guys in the National League."

Cook went nine innings, allowing just a run and five hits and striking out four.

"The guy pitched an incredible ballgame," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "You aren't going to see many better than that.

"It was just one pitch - a changeup - on a good count to throw it against a guy who he punched out earlier. He knows how well he pitched, the defense knows how well he pitched. That's what you take from this game."

The San Diego bullpen remained unscored upon this season in 18 2/3 innings while compiling a 3-0 record in six games.

"I hope it keeps going," Black said. "All of our pitchers, we have high expectations for them. Our bullpen has been outstanding. They're on a great roll."