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Cook helps Rockies keep winning streak alive

May 27, 2007 - 6:30 AM SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- With his team in the National League West basement but picking up steam, Aaron Cook came up big once again for the Colorado Rockies.

Cook tossed his first complete game in two seasons and Matt Holliday had three RBI as the Rockies downed the San Francisco Giants, 6-1, on Saturday.

Cook (4-1), who has pitched at least six innings in all but one start this season, yielded just one runs and five hits with four walks and two strikeouts, becoming the first Colorado pitcher to log a complete game this season. It also was the fifth of Cook's career.

"My sinker and breaking ball is really what I stuck with today," Cook said. "I was able to come out of the bullpen with both those pitches and mostly the sinker, but I mixed in my breaking ball when I had an opportunity to and kept them off-balance just enough."

"Cookie (Cook) did a great job (and) kept us in the game the whole time," Rockies outfielder Willy Taveras said.

Holliday supplied all the offense his pitcher would require, plating his first run in a 1-1 contest on a groundout in the third and roping a two-run single to left in the seventh to increase the Rockies' lead to 6-1.

"We got a great start, 18 ground-ball outs from Aaron," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "Offensively, we made some things happen. We took advantage of some breaks, errors (and) got some big hits."

Taveras tallied two hits and scored twice for the Rockies, who have won four in a row.

"Actually, it was a great game for us," Taveras said. "It's a lot of pressure when I'm on base. We've got great speed. If we get on, we can do some damage. That's what it's all about. I'm sure our big guys feel great to hit behind (us). You saw what happened tonight."

All four runs scored in the third were unearned against Giants starter Matt Morris (5-2). After Cook singled to open the third and Taveras beat out a bunt single, Kaz Matsui's sacrifice bunt attempt led to a fielding error by San Francisco third baseman Pedro Feliz, allowing Cook to score his first run.

"He had good stuff, just a lousy ballgame," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said of Morris. "The fundamentals got us but Matt should have come out better than that. We didn't do anything right tonight. We didn't get bats going, didn't handle some bunts. That's what beat us. You have to execute the fundamentals. It didn't happen tonight."

After Holliday's groundout, second baseman Ray Durham misplayed a grounder by Todd Helton. Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe followed Helton and each drove in a run to give the Rockies with a 4-1 advantage.

Morris surrendered six runs - two earned - and eight hits with three strikeouts for the Giants, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. He posted the team's only RBI in the contest.

The contest featured some drama late as San Francisco reliever Steve Kline nailed former Giant Yorvit Torrealba in the elbow with his first pitch after he had come on to relieve Morris. Torrealba walked slowly to first while jawing with Kline, who took his time heading in the hitter's direction.

Both benches cleared but no punches were thrown and no ejections were issued. The bad blood between the two players likely stemmed from an incident that occurred in the finale of a four-game set between the teams on May 13.

With the Giants leading, 15-1, that day, Torrealba singled and took second on defensive indifference, prompting an emotional response from the reliever after the game.

"Yeah, I'm sure it's over," Bochy said. "Just two guys taking care of an issue. That's all."

Although Torrealba refused to comment about the incident, Kline expressed his frustrations.

"You have to beat your division teams and we're not doing it," Kline said. "We need some vinegar in our swagger. That's the most disappointing thing about today. The only thing you can control is your attitude. We lost a tough one yesterday, but today it was like we didn't show up."