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Tulowitzki hits for cycle, drives in seven

Aug 11, 2009 - 5:15 AM DENVER(AP) -- As Troy Tulowitzki headed for second, the words of teammate Brad Hawpe echoed in his head.

"We were sitting on the bench together and he was telling me, 'If you get anywhere close to getting a triple you better go,"' Tulowitzki said. "I honestly think if it weren't for him I would have stopped at second."

Tulowitzki gambled and sprinted for third on his hit down the left-field line in the seventh, sliding headfirst into third to complete the first cycle in his young career. He had a night to remember, getting five hits with a career-high seven RBIs to help Colorado beat the Chicago Cubs 11-5 on Monday night.

"That's a pretty good career for some guys," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "Just a tremendous offensive performance."

Tulowitzki, who had a home run denied in the first video review at Coors Field, came to bat to lead off the seventh a triple shy of the franchise's fifth cycle and first in nine years. He laced a 3-2 pitch down the left-field line and slid headfirst into the bag before third baseman Jake Fox could corral the throw from left.

"I thought I was going to be out, but I keep going back to Hawpe," he said. "He said he would have been upset if I didn't try."

Tulowitzki hit his 21st homer in the first, singled in the second and doubled in the fourth in his first three at-bats. He added a two-run single in the eighth.

When he came out to play the field in the eighth inning, the crowd of 34,485 gave him a standing ovation.

"I don't know if I'll ever have a game like this ever in my career," he said. "Not too many people can say they had a cycle in the big leagues."

It was the sixth cycle in the majors this season.

"He achieved something that's not easy to do," teammate Todd Helton said. "I'm proud of him and very happy to be able to have a front-row seat to watch that tonight."

Helton had three singles to extend his hitting streak to 15 games and Jorge De La Rosa struck out 11 for the Rockies, who took three of the four games in the wraparound series with the Cubs.

Tulowitzki had a chance at more RBIs, but a review of his high fly ball in the second inning went against him. With the bases loaded, Tulowitzki hit a fastball from Esmailin Caridad deep down the left-field line and it was ruled foul by third base umpire Bill Welke.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy asked the umpires to look at the replay and the call was upheld under review.

"That might have been too high over the foul pole for even replay to grab a hold of," Tracy said. "I give them credit for not objecting to my request. If he would have rejected the request I would have been in a little bit difference place for the rest of the night."

The review of the play took 4 minutes, 10 seconds.

"They did everything they possibly could, there just wasn't enough evidence to change it," Tulowitzki said. "They called it foul from the beginning so they had to stick with it."

The delay didn't bother Tulowitzki. Two pitches later he lashed a two-run single to left to give Colorado a 6-0 lead in a busy second inning that knocked Cubs starter Tom Gorzelanny out of the game.

With one out Barmes hit his 16th home run to make it 3-0. Yorvit Torrealba followed with a double and De La Rosa singled to put runners on the corner.

Dexter Fowler followed with a hard grounder off of Gorzelanny's right foot, scoring Torrealba. Gorzelanny (4-2) suffered a contusion on the foot and had to leave the game.

"X-rays showed no damage," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We will re-evaluate him when we get home."

Chicago got its first run on Geovany Soto's leadoff homer in the sixth. The Cubs had their chances against De La Rosa (10-8), who struggled early but last 7 2-3 innings. They left the bases loaded in the first and second innings, but after that De La Rosa settled down. He retired 10 of 11 batters in the middle innings and struck out the side in the fourth. He loaded the bases in the eighth before Rafael Betancourt retired pinch-hitter Aaron Miles to get out of the jam.

NOTES: De La Rosa's 11 strikeouts were one short of his career high set May 9 against Florida. ... Chicago left 13 runners on base for the second straight game. ... Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez (left shoulder soreness) was out of the lineup Monday. Piniella said Ramirez will be seen by the team doctor in Chicago on Tuesday. ... An MRI Monday on Rockies RHP Aaron Cook right big toe revealed the joint is inflammed. He will pitch a bullpen session Thursday and is scheduled to start Saturday in Florida. Rookie Jhoulys Chacin will start in his place Tuesday.