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Iannetta caps four-run eighth as Rockies top Cards

May 8, 2008 - 5:41 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- It didn't feel as good as reaching the World Series last season, but the Colorado Rockies certainly savored a comeback victory on Wednesday night.

Chris Iannetta hit a two-run triple to cap a four-run, eighth-inning rally by the Rockies en route to a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field.

"You are always looking for a spark to start a fire. We had two big at-bats at very critical times," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "We needed a win worse than a hog needs slop."

Colorado trailed, 3-0, when St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright left after scattering four hits in seven innings. Omar Quintanilla triggered the rally with a one-out single, and Matt Holliday drove him home with a triple to the corner in right field.

Garrett Atkins drew a walk, and pinch hitter Ryan Spilborghs drove in Holliday with a single to left field. That brought up Iannetta, who hit a triple to nearly the same spot as Holliday, bringing home Atkins and Spilborghs to give Colorado a 4-3 lead.

"I was just looking for something to hit. I watched (Spilborghs') at-bat and he got pretty much all fastballs," Iannetta said. "We needed that. We were on the verge of coming back in a few games in the stretch. Couple hits here, couple pitches and some defense there caused us not to win some ballgames."

Ryan Speier (1-1) earned the win, and Brian Fuentes picked up his third save of the season.

The Rockies have won only four of their last 17 games, but they inched out of a tie with the San Diego Padres for the worst record in the majors.

Colorado was mostly silent until that eighth inning. Starter Jeff Francis was chased after five innings and failed to pick up his first win of the season, as Wainwright held the Rockies down.

But the Cardinals' bullpen, which leads the league in held leads this season with 31, faded thanks to Kyle McClellan, Randy Flores and Jason Isringhausen (0-1), who all gave up runs.

"I put (Isringhausen) in a tough situation, coming in the eighth inning," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "Give them credit. Spilborghs fouled off a bunch of pitches and found a hole, and then the catcher hit the first pitch. ... Sometimes, you have to tip your cap to the other side."

Willy Taveras made a leaping catch in the outfield, preventing a possible grand slam by Albert Pujols.

"Willy had another game where he saved a few runs, there's no doubt about that. He is making that play now with regularity," Hurdle said.

For the Cardinals, Ryan Ludwick hit a solo home run and extended his hitting streak to seven consecutive games. He is 7-for-9 at the plate in the first three games of the four-game series against the Rockies.