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Rockies survive Cubs and elements to win in 14 innings

Oct 1, 2006 - 2:36 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Colorado Rockies overcame a late-inning meltdown and a rain delay to escape with a rare road series win.

Jeff Baker hit a two-run single in the 14th inning off Jae Kuk Ryu as the Rockies posted an 11-9 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Baker's single plated Todd Helton and Brad Hawpe and helped the Rockies earn their first road series win since early August. Colorado beat Chicago, 5-2, on Friday to win the first game of the series.

"We battled hard today," Hawpe said. "They came back late, in the seventh, eighth, and ninth; they came out swinging. It was a good one to take away."

Helton led off the frame with a double against Ryu (0-1), who was the 10th Chicago pitcher, and Hawpe walked on four pitches. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice before Baker's single to center scored both.

"He (Ryu) has good stuff I've faced him in AAA," Baker said. "He started me with a breaking ball and doubled up on it. It's a nice win for us."

Ramon Ramirez (4-3), the 10th Rockies pitcher, pitched 1 2/3 innings to earn the win. The game was delayed 38 minutes due to a heavy rain shower in the 11th inning.

"Fourteen-inning game, second to the last day of the season, you blow an 8-0 lead, you have to find a way to win," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said.

Hawpe went 4-for-5 with three RBI, including his 22nd homer in the third inning that gave Colorado an 8-0 lead. Jamey Carroll, Matt Holliday and Chris Iannetta also homered for the Rockies.

"Big day at the plate for Brad," Hurdle said. "He had six quality at-bats. Brad had a beautiful day offensively; he showed up all over the place."

Jacque Jones and Freddie Bynum had two RBI each and Ryan Theriot drove in three runs for the Cubs, who scored four in the seventh and two in the eighth to close within 9-8.

"There is no quit in our team," Jones said. "That is a testament to our manager, we just came up a little short."

Chicago tied the game at 9-9 when Jones plated Matt Murton with a two-out ninth-inning single off Brian Fuentes. It was the closer's sixth blown save of the season.

"We came back big-time," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "We had a chance to win it late, we just couldn't get that big hit in the 14th."

Jeff Francis started for Colorado and pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing six runs and seven hits.

Chicago starter Juan Mateo was tagged for seven runs and four hits in just 1 2/3 innings.