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Tulowitzki's 11th-inning hit helps Rockies beat Reds

May 5, 2007 - 5:27 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Colorado Rockies finally found a way to win at their personal house of horrors.

Rookie Troy Tulowitzki hit a two-out RBI single to plate Willy Taveras in the top of the 11th inning and the Rockies held on for a 6-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.

Taveras had three hits and Todd Helton hit a two-run homer for Colorado, which snapped a nine-game road losing streak at Great American Ballpark.

"Every time we come in here it seems like we play an extra-inning game," Helton said. "It's good to win one."

With two outs and nobody on in the decisive frame, Taveras lined a double off the left field wall off reliever Mike Stanton (1-2).

"It seemed Willie was on base everytime I came up," Tulowitzki said.

"Our one and two hitters are complementing each other very well," said Colorado manager Clint Hurdle of Taveras and Tulowitzki. "We kept clawing."

After David Weathers came on to pitch for Cincinnati, Tulowitzki hit a single to right field to plate Taveras and give the Rockies a one-run lead.

"I don't know what it is but when the game's on the line I feel relaxed," Tulowitzki said. "I wish I could feel that way every at-bat."

"Tulowitzki is unflappable," Helton said. "He put a great swing on the ball going against a veteran pitcher."

Colorado closer Brian Fuentes worked around a two-out walk to pinch hitter Jeff Conine in the 11th inning to earn his sixth save in seven attempts in 2007. Reliever Denny Bautista (2-0) allowed a hit in the bottom of the 10th inning to earn the victory.

Zach McClellan pitched hitless ball in the seventh and eighth.

"Our last three pitchers were dynamite," Hurdle said.

After the Rockies took a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh when pinch hitter Steve Finley scored from first base on a bunt single by Taveras and a throwing error by third baseman Edwin Encarnacion, the Reds tied the score in the bottom of the frame.

Jeremy Affeldt relieved Colorado starter Jason Hirsh and promptly allowed a single by pinch hitter Norris Hopper, who moved to second on a sacrifice by Scott Hatteberg. Brandon Phillips hammered a single to center field, plating Hopper and tying the game at 5-5.

Phillips, who leads the Reds with 18 RBI, nearly untied the contest, but was thrown out at home plate on a relay throw by Tulowitzki to catcher Yorvit Torrealba, who dove to tag the sliding Phillips.

"We've played some good defense this season," Hurdle said. "Tulowitzki made a heads-up play."

"I knew Phillips was going to try to score. I peeked as I was going out to left," Tulowitzki said. "I thought he was going the whole time. My throw was a little off but Torrealba did a good job."

Colorado scored first when Helton hit a two-run homer in the first to give the Rockies a 2-0 lead. It was just the second blast of the year for Helton, who has 288 for his career.

"Helton hit the home run sure, but he doesn't have to," Hurdle said. "He can keep doing what he's doing. He was on base four times tonight. His on-base percentage (.524) is ridiculous."

However, Cincinnati catcher David Ross tied the score in the second with a two-run blast over the left field wall.

After an RBI double by Alex Gonzalez in the third and a solo homer by Ken Griffey Jr. in the fifth gave Cincinnati a 4-2 lead, Colorado tied it in the sixth on a run-scoring single by Garrett Atkins and run-scoring double-play grounder.