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Five-run 12th lifts Royals past Rockies

May 21, 2007 - 1:08 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- The Kansas City Royals needed 12 innings but still managed to clinch their first winning road trip of the season.

The Royals scored five runs in the 12th frame to earn a 10-5 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, ending a 10-game road trip with a 6-4 record.

Reliever Joel Peralta (1-2) earned the win and made sure the Rockies would not mount another comeback by clubbing a two-run double in the 12th. It came in his first major league at-bat.

"I just hit and start running," Peralta said. "I didn't know if it would go over the left fielder's head, so I started running."

Ryan Shealy, Angel Berroa and Mark Teahen also drove in runs in the deciding frame. Colorado reliever Ramon Ramirez (1-1) surrendered all five runs in the 12th to take his first loss of the season.

"It was one of those days when my control and my balance just weren't working," Ramirez said.

The Rockies made sure Kansas City starter Brian Bannister did not notch his first win of the season with a ninth-inning rally that pushed the game to extra innings. After Royals closer Joakim Soria got two quick outs to begin the home half of the ninth, veteran Steve Finley singled to first to keep Colorado's hopes alive.

After Troy Tulowitzki was hit by a pitch, Matt Holliday slapped an RBI single to center, which plated Finley and tied the score, 4-4.

The Royals went ahead again in the 11th, only to see the Rockies tie the score again in their half. Bannister got Kansas City's rally started in a four-run third with a leadoff single to center.

David DeJesus followed with another single before Bannister was forced out at third on Esteban German's fielder's choice grounder. With runners on first and second, Mark Teahen got the Royals on the board, driving DeJesus home with a single to right. Emil Brown's two-run single followed, putting Kansas City on top 3-0.

The Royals added a fourth run when Shealy's double to left-center brought Brown around to score.

The four-run inning doomed Rockies starter Jason Hirsh, who was pulled after five frames. The 25-year-old struck out three and allowed six hits to go along with the four runs.

Hirsh (2-5) is winless since April 22 against San Diego. In his five starts since, the rookie righthander is 0-4 with one no-decision and a 5.28 ERA. Bannister, who was making his fourth start of the season, surrendered three runs and five hits in five innings.

The 26-year-old righthander struck out four and issued one walk, leaving the game in line for the win. Four relievers combined to throw three scoreless innings, with Soria getting the final out of the eighth before yielding the tying run in the ninth.

Colorado threatened in the eighth against Kansas City reliever David Riske. The veteran reliever began the frame by walking Tulowitzki. After Holliday lined out to center, Todd Helton singled to center, sending Tulowitzki to third.

Helton advanced to second on Garrett Atkins' grounder back to the pitcher, and Brad Hawpe was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs.

Soria replaced Riske and got pinch hitter Jeff Baker to fly out to center to end the threat. The Royals ended the 10-game trip at 6-4. Shealy, for one, hopes it's the start of a turnaround.

"We were in almost every game on this trip," Shealy said. "We won the series in Oakland and we won the series here. Hopefully, it's something we'll build on."