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Spilborghs, Rockies overcome Marlins

Jul 4, 2008 - 5:18 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- Ryan Spilborghs hit a two-RBI, walk-off single as the Colorado Rockies rallied past the Florida Marlins, 6-5, in 11 innings Thursday night.

Florida Marlins reliever Kevin Gregg (6-3) allowed a leadoff walk and threw off the mark on a sacrifice bunt from Scott Podsednik before walking Troy Tulowitzki to load the bases with no outs in the decisive inning.

After Omar Quintanilla grounded into a force play at the plate, Spilborghs raked a line drive to left field, scoring Podsednik and Tulowitzki for the go-ahead runs.

"It feels good to win a game in dramatic fashion in front of a sold-out crowd," Spilborghs said. "We were pulling for one run and we got two, which was gravy."

Jeff Baker finished with four RBI and a home run and Garrett Atkins had two hits as the Rockies improved to 35-51 with their third straight win. Matt Herges (3-3) got the win by pitching the final two innings.

Cody Ross had three hits and Jorge Cantu added another two, including a home run, as the Marlins (44-41) fell 2 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.

"The ninth, 10th and 11th inning, and the eighth, we let the leadoff guy on. That's just asking for trouble," Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Ross singled in the second inning to get Florida started in front of a sellout crowd at Coors Field. Robert Andino followed with a hard line drive off the glove of Jeff Baker at first base and Paul Hoover plated Ross with a single to right, moving Andino to third.

Pitcher Andrew Miller dropped a sacrifice bunt down the first base line to score Andino and give the Marlins an early 2-0 lead.

Colorado evened the score in the bottom of the inning. Atkins dribbled a ground ball to third where Wes Helms tried, and failed, to make a bare-handed play. Baker took advantage with a home run to right field.

The Rockies moved ahead in the sixth. Clint Barmes drew a leadoff walk and moved to third base when Atkins singled to center field. Baker hit a grounder to short, scoring Barmes for a 3-2 advantage.

"I didn't take a very big swing. I was more concerned with bringing the runner in," Baker said. "If I hit it deep, great, but I was just trying to do my job."

Cantu took the lead back for Florida with a two-run homer off Taylor Buchholz in the eighth inning, but Colorado tied the game for a second time a half-inning later, again thanks to the bat of Baker.

Barmes and Matt Holliday each connected for bloop singles off Logan Kensing - Barmes to left field and Holliday to right. Barmes moved to third base on a wild pitch, and Baker powered a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right field to make the count 4-4.

Veteran Mark Redman gave the Rockies a solid effort in place of Jeff Francis, who a day earlier was placed on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his throwing shoulder. Starting with one day's notice after being called up from Class AAA Colorado Springs,. Redman allowed two runs and six hits while striking out two and walking one.

"After all the ups and downs if was nice to get out there again," Redman said. "I was working hard to keep us in there and let the guys go out and swing the bats."

Hard-throwing lefty Miller allowed just five hits but left with two out in the seventh inning and didn't factor in the decision for Florida, which used seven pitchers.

"To be upside down like that twice and come back is great. Third time's a charm," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said of two lost leads. "It gives us an opportunity to get some momentum."