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Offense erupts as Rockies rout Giants

Sep 25, 2008 - 6:47 AM By Al Barba PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Clint Barmes, Garrett Atkins and Jeff Baker each hit home runs to highlight an 18-hit attack as the Colorado Rockies powered their way to a 15-6 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

Barmes collected four hits, four RBI and a career-high four runs while finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Atkins and Matt Holliday each drove in three runs as every batter in the starting lineup had at least one hit.

"I think everyone in here would like to finish strong. Nobody in here is going to go out and just go through the motions," Barmes said. "I've been with a lot of these guys for a few years now, and it's just the type of guys in here, I don't think anyone is giving up. We're out trying to win games every night."

Chris Iannetta broke the Rockies' single-season RBI record for a catcher by driving in two runs. He now has 65 RBI, surpassing Brent Mayne's mark of 64 set in 2000.

"I didn't even know I had done it until our PR guy came up and told me," Iannetta said. "I didn't know what he was talking about until he explained it to me. It's not something I look at. I'm more focussed on how the guys are doing on the mound. It will be cool to look at it in the offseason and take pride in it."

The Rockies had their way against Jonathan Sanchez (9-12), pounding the lefthander for seven runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. It marked the second straight outing in which he failed to make it through four innings as he fell to 1-8 in his last 11 starts dating to July 4.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy offered no excuses for Sanchez's rough outing.

"(Sanchez) shouldn't be tired. He had good stuff. He had trouble getting the ball where he wanted tonight," Bochy said. "It was a disappointing start for him. The innings had nothing to do with the start or last start. He is fine. He is healthy. He just wasn't good tonight."

Colorado scored three runs in the first before Barmes stroked his 10th home run in the second to push the lead to 4-1. The Rockies broke open the game with a four-run fourth that was highlighted by two-run doubles by Barmes and Holliday.

"He's handled that spot pretty well when he's been up there," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said of Barmes' performance in the leadoff spot. "He's been in a good place offensively. He's been on a good roll now and probably that's as good a game as he's had at the major league level, swinging the bat and driving in runs."

Colorado continued its onslaught against Kevin Correia, scoring seven runs while registering seven hits in two innings vs. the righthander. Correia surrendered a three-run home run by Atkins, his 21st, in the fifth before Baker launched his 12th - a solo blast - in the sixth.

"It was a rough outing for Kevin, overall. That game started out bad, and it gradually got worse," Bochy said. "Kevin's had a rough time, too, and we need to get him some work. He was making too many mistakes.

"I know for Kevin, it's frustrating. He went in the rotation last year and pitched great. He has had a tough time this year. You are hoping as we get toward the end that we are going to finish strong, but that was a rough outing for him."

Former Giant Livan Hernandez (3-3) was the beneficiary of the offensive explosion, allowing five runs and 12 hits in seven innings while walking two and striking out three.

"(Hernandez) has had a good history of pitching in this ballpark. He feels comfortable here," Hurdle said. "It was a good way for him to finish up in his last start of the season."

Rookie Eugenio Velez led the Giants' offense, logging three hits with two runs scored and an RBI. San Francisco managed to score single runs in four straight innings beginning with the fifth after opening the scoring with one in the first.