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Tulowitzki leads Rockies past Cubs

Aug 12, 2007 - 11:58 PM By Tony Desiere PA SportsTicker Contributing writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- Troy Tulowitzki drove in three runs and the Colorado Rockies' bullpen was near-perfect in a 6-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.

Tulowitzki tied the game at 3-3 with a solo home run off Cubs starter Sean Marshall in the fifth inning. The hot-hitting shortstop then highlighted a three-run sixth with a two-run double to give the Rockies the lead for good.

While Rockies starter Tim Harikkala struggled, the Colorado bullpen was there to pick him up.

"Almost perfect, 16 out of 17 they retired," said Rockies manager Clint Hurdle in reference to his bullpen. "All of them showed up big. And Harikkala gave us what we needed. We needed some innings."

With the Rockies leading, 2-0, Harikkala ran into problems in the fourth inning as he allowed back-to-back singles to Mark DeRosa and Mike Fontenot to open the inning. Jason Kendall followed with the team's third consecutive base hit, plating DeRosa from from second base.

Fontenot came home with the tying run moments later on a groundout by Felix Pie.

The parade of singles resumed as Marshall collected a base hit followed by an RBI single by Ryan Theriot to give the Cubs a 3-2 lead.

Matt Herges replaced Harikkala and ended the threat when Jacque Jones grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

"Jones is white hot," Herges said. "He's been killing us in this series. I went up there thinking, 'He's not going to strike out. He's going to make contact so just keep it down.' Luckily he hit it at (second baseman Kaz Matsui) and he turned it."

Herges (1-0) remained in the game to pitch a perfect fifth and sixth innings. LaTroy Hawkins tossed a perfect seventh and Jorge Julio followed suit in the eighth.

"We only had that one inning offensively," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We had chances early in the ballgame and didn't take advantage of them."

Chicago finally got a baserunner in the ninth when Manny Corpas walked Kendall before nailing down his ninth save of the season.

Harikkala, whose contract was purchased from Class AAA Colorado Springs to take the spot of injured starter Jason Hirsh, allowed three runs, nine hits and one walk while striking out two in 3 1/3 innings.

Matt Holliday collected two hits and drove in a run for Colorado, which knocked around Chicago reliever Kerry Wood in the sixth.

After walking Geronimo Gil with one out, Wood gave up a double to Ian Stewart. He intentionally walked Matsui to load the bases before giving up the two-run double to Tulowitzki.

"Anytime you are in a playoff race, it's just good to get the win," Tulowitzki said. "Up to this point, it's the biggest hit I ever had. Us being in a pennant race and being able to contribute means a lot."

The Rockies (61-56) trail the San Diego Padres (63-54) by two games in the National League wild card race.

"(Tulowitzki) continues to throw up some big days," Hurdle said. "He's showing up well. He likes to play and he likes to win. Anything short of that is not acceptable. He finds a way to put the barrel on the ball with men on base."

In his fourth relief appearance of the season, Wood allowed three runs, two hits and two walks in his one inning.

"I hope (my pitching is) not a work in progress when you are pitching in a pennant race," Wood said. "I didn't come in (with pitches) and pitched behind guys and didn't get ahead in the count. It makes your job a lot tougher."

Marshall pitched five innings, allowing three runs, six hits and two walks while striking out one in five innings.

With the win, the Rockies split the series with the Cubs. Chicago scored 16 runs in the first two games of the series but only managed five in the final two.

The Rockies have not lost a home series since May 19.