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Tulowitzki helps keep Rockies in playoff chase

Sep 26, 2007 - 6:44 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Troy Tulowitzki hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning, leading the Colorado Rockies to a club record-tying ninth straight win with a 9-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

Because Philadelphia (85-72) lost to Atlanta earlier in the day, Colorado (85-72) pulled even with the Phillies in the wild card race, with each team one game behind San Diego (86-71), which beat San Francisco. The win streak matches the only other time the Rockies won that many consecutive games from August 26-September 5, 1997.

"We just have to keep going out there and trying to win every game from here on out," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "We are playing good baseball right now and just have to keep it going for a few more games."

Trailing in the sixth, 5-4, Colorado moved ahead when Ryan Spilborghs singled to lead off the inning. After Dodger reliever Mark Hendrickson (4-8) struck out Jeff Baker and forced Kaz Matsui into a groundout, Tulowitzki belted the second pitch he saw from the lefthander over the fence in left-center to increase his own major league record for homers by a rookie shortstop to 23.

"I just wanted to make something happen and put a good swing on the pitch," Tulowitzki said. "It put us in a good position to win the game at the time."

Tulowitzki also doubled and scored in the eighth to increase the lead to 7-5.

"Right now, we are clicking and playing good," Tulowitzki said. "It would be big if we ended up sneaking into the playoffs, but right now, we just have to go out and take it one game at a time."

Former Dodger Matt Herges (6-1) pitched perfect frames in the sixth and seventh to get the win for Colorado. Reliever Brian Fuentes made things interesting in the eighth, walking the first two batters he faced before surrendering Andy LaRoche's RBI single to trim the lead to 7-6.

"We had a good chance to to tie the game or take the lead, but we just couldn't come up with that big hit we needed," Dodgers manager Grady Little said.

Chin-Lung Hu grounded into a fielder's choice and pinch hitter Nomar Garciaparra popped out before walking Juan Pierre to load the bases. However, Matt Kemp flied out to shallow center to end the threat.

"I just didn't get the job done tonight," Kemp said. "That was our chance to put runs on the board and I just couldn't get it done for us."

Rockies closer Manny Corpas succeeded Fuentes and surrendered rookie Delwyn Young's first career homer, but collected himself in time to post his 17th save in 20 chances.

"Manny has done a great job coming in and getting guys out," Hurdle said. "I feel like we have a good one-two punch at the end of games."

Hu and James Loney each hit two-run homers for the Dodgers, who have lost eight of their last nine games.

"This was a bad time for us to not play good baseball down the stretch when every game is big," Loney said. "I (hope) we can come out tomorrow and pull out a win."