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Seven-run ninth powers Rockies past Padres

Apr 17, 2008 - 6:04 AM By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- The defending National League Champion Colorado Rockies felt like it was only a matter of time before their offense came to life.

Garrett Atkins tied a career high with four hits and drove in two runs to lead the Colorado Rockies to a 10-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

Troy Tulowitzki laced a two-run double in the ninth as the Rockies broke open a 3-2 game with the seven-run frame.

"It felt good," Atkins said. "Guys didn't try and do to much. We took what the pitchers gave us and hit the ball the other way, using the whole field. Guys were taking walks and we did a good job with two outs today."

Prior to the ninth, the game was a pitchers' duel in which the difference was a sixth-inning RBI double by Chris Iannetta, who helped San Diego native Mark Redman pick up his first win in his hometown.

Redman (2-1) threw five effective innings, allowing two runs on three hits. The 34-year-old lefthander struck out two batters and walked a pair.

"It was nice to get a win in front of some friends and family," Redman said. "(The Padres) hit some mistakes, but for the most part I was able to limit the damage. We have a pretty good lineup and it was nice to see the guys come through."

"We were having some good at-bats throughout the game, but it was a nail-biter for eight innings," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "We were able to throw a big number up in the ninth. That was the kind of game we were looking for."

Four relievers combined to hold the Padres scoreless over the final four frames.

"It was a well-pitched game until it sort of got away from us in the ninth," Padres manager Bud Black said. "We just couldn't solve their (pitchers) tonight. Atkins was a thorn in our sides all night. He sort of took what we gave him and got his hits."

Clint Barmes drove in a pair of runs for the Rockies, who entered the contest with the fewest runs scored in the majors (46). But it seemed to be a team breakout performance for Colorado, which pounded out 15 hits.

"Obviously, the start we've had was not as good as what we were hoping for," Barmes said. "I think it's definitely something we needed for all the hitters to get some hits under their belt. It's going to be big for the next couple of days, and hopefully we can get rolling from there."

The Rockies got on the board when Atkins singled in the first to plate Ryan Spilborghs for a 1-0 lead. Spilborghs tripled in the second to score Iannetta and push the advantage to 2-0.

San Diego tied the game at 2-2 thanks to Brian Giles, who hit an RBI double in the third and a fifth-inning RBI triple. However, Iannetta doubled home Atkins in the next frame for a 3-2 lead.

Iannetta capped his career-best three hit night by earning a leadoff walk against Cla Meredith in the ninth to spark the huge frame.

Giles accounted for two of the three hits managed by the Padres, who have been held to four or fewer hits in four games this season.

San Diego starter Justin Germano (0-1) matched a career best by going seven innings, but yielded three runs on eight hits with a pair of walks. He did not strike out a batter.

"I really wasn't that sharp with my fastball location," Germano said. "I did get some ground balls and some guys jammed themselves, but I wasn't really overall happy with my fastball location even though I was able to keep the team in the game for seven innings."