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Livingston gets first career win vs. Rockies

Jun 2, 2007 - 5:49 AM Denver (Ticker) -- Bobby Livingston took advantage of his second opportunity.

Livingston pitched 6 2/3 commanding innings and Ken Griffey Jr. homered as the Cincinnati Reds posted a 4-2 triumph over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.

In earning his first career win, Livingston (1-0) gave up one unearned and seven hits with one. The 24-year-old was more than effective with his pitches, forcing 12 ground-ball outs and eight flyouts.

Livingston also drove in a run with a single in the fourth.

"It was a great team win, everything I thought it would be, but I was kind of more excited about the hit," said Livingston, who was making his second career start.

"The kid (Livingston) was able to stay out of trouble," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "When we did get some guys on base, we weren't able to get the big hit. We were a big hit away from breaking something open and never got it."

Livingston was called up from Class AAA Louisville on Monday.

In his first career start on May 13, Livingston lasted 5 1/3 frames with a one-run lead, leaving in position for the win before the bullpen blew it one inning later in a 10-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Livingston was on the verge of encountering deja vu, as Willy Taveras singled, then stole second and scored on shortstop Alex Gonzalez's fielding error with the bases loaded that brought the Rockies within 4-1 in the seventh.

But reliever Jon Coutlangus entered and got Jeff Baker to ground out as the Reds avoided further damage.

"We got in a little trouble and (Coutlangus) came in and picked us up," Livingston said. "It was a good team win, everybody was just picking everybody up. To win ballgames, that's what you have to do."

Colorado continued to draw closer against Cincinnati's bullpen, when Taveras delivered an RBI single in the eighth off closer David Weathers, slicing the deficit in half, 4-2.

However, Weathers shut the door in the decisive frame, retiring the heart of the Rockies' batting order for his 11th save of the season.

"I was just happy to get a win," Cincinnati manager Jerry Narron said. "They came back there after we didn't pitch as well after Livingston left but Coutlangus and Weathers did a great job."

Griffey opened the scoring with his 12th homer of the season off starter Taylor Buchholz (2-3), who has been touched up for 12 runs in three lifetime starts against Cincinnati.

Griffey's homer was the 575th of his career, leaving him eight shy from tying Mark McGwire for eighth on the all-time list.

"Anytime you're able to spot the pitcher like that it takes a little pressure off him and I was fortunate to get a ball I could hit and I hit it," Griffey said.

In the fourth, Gonzalez hit a two-run blast - his 11th - and Livingston helped his own cause later in the inning with an RBI single to right field, making it 4-0.

Buchholz surrendered four runs and six hits with three strikeouts in 6 2/3 frames as he watched his ERA rise to 5.55.

"I'm definitely happy I was able to keep us in the game," Buchholz said. "I didn't have my good stuff, so I'm happy I was able to go out there and battle and get seven innings out of it."

Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday left the contest following the bottom of the fourth with a head contusion suffered in the dugout. He is listed as day-to-day.