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Tulowitzki homers as Rockies top Nationals

Aug 26, 2007 - 5:11 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Rookie Troy Tulowitzki hit his 18th homer of the season and Matt Holliday extended his hitting streak to 15 games as the Colorado Rockies posted a 5-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night at Coors Field.

Brad Hawpe had two RBI for the Rockies (66-63), who kept alive hope for a playoff berth. Colorado is 6 1/2 games behind first-place Arizona (72-57) in the National League West Division.

Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez (3-2) had a shaky beginning in the first inning, giving up a double by leadoff hitter Felipe Lopez - who then stole third - and an RBI groundout by Nook Logan. But Jimenez settled in and allowed just two more Nationals to reach base before being pulled after seven innings.

He allowed one run and three hits while striking out four and walking two, throwing 100 pitches - 63 for strikes.

"That extended first inning was a little off-kilter for him," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "But he hung in there, left a couple men on base and was efficient in the second, the third and the fourth."

LaTroy Hawkins tossed a perfect eighth and Jorge Julio hurled a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation.

Colorado quickly erased the 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the first as Tulowitzki lifted a 3-2 pitch from Washington starter Tim Redding over the wall in right-center field with one out. Hawpe gave the Rockies the lead in the fourth, when he launched a two-run shot - his 23rd of the season - to make it 3-1.

"It's always nice to score in the first, especially when they put a run up," Tulowitzki said. "Who knows, that might have got us going a little bit. We've been struggling a little bit offensively as of late.

"Hopefully this will carry over to (Sunday)."

The Rockies extended their lead in the fifth as Holliday singled up the middle to drive in Kaz Matsui, who led off the frame with a bunt single. That preceded a mini-meltdown by Redding (3-4), who walked Todd Helton to load the bases before issuing a free pass to Garrett Atkins that forced in Tulowitzki for a 5-1 advantagae.

Austin Kearns had two hits for the Nationals, who have lost seven of their last 10 games.