• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Iannetta, Tulowitzki come up big for Rockies

Apr 4, 2007 - 7:11 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Rookies Troy Tulowitzki and Chris Iannetta provided some late drama long after the starters hit the showers.

Tulowitzki hit a game-tying double in the 11th inning and Iannetta scored him as the Colorado Rockies rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Todd Helton led off the decisive inning with a single to left against Jose Valverde (0-1) and Matt Holliday singled to right. After Brad Hawpe hit into a double play, Tulowitzki drilled a ball that just escaped a diving Eric Byrnes in right field.

"I've seen five pitches from him (Valverde) and I've swung at every single one (prior to this at-bat)," Tulowitzki said. "He throws hard, his ball cuts. I stayed on one, got in the strike zone, and took a good swing. ... After Hawpe grounded into the double play I just wanted to pick him up."

Byrnes, who was the hero on Opening Day, was upset with himself for not making the catch.

"I should have made the play. It's very simple," said Byrnes. "The ball hit me in the palm of the glove. If the ball hits me in the glove, I need to catch the ball. That's the play that cost us the game and I take full responsibility."

Iannetta then hit a ground ball to Albert Callaspo at third that rolled under his glove for an error, allowing Tulowitzki to score the game-winning run.

"I tried to catch the ball but it was bad fielding by me," said Callaspo. "The ball stayed down and it just went under my glove. It's going to be like that sometimes, it's a long season."

"That was huge. They are at the point of their careers where we're going to let them go and show us what they can do," said bench coach Jamie Quirk. "It's a different ball club with them at the bottom of the lineup this year. Already through two games they've shown that they can handle it."

Colorado reliever Byun-Hung Kim (1-0)) picked up the win despite giving up an RBI single to Stephen Drew in the top of the frame.

Kim, who has publicly stated that he wants to start, nearly imploded in the frame. After retiring the first two batters Kim walked Chris Synder and hit Callaspo. Drew then hit a 2-2 pitch for a seeing-eye single to right field and Snyder beat Brad Hawpe's throw to put the Diamondbacks up 3-2.

Rockies starter Jeff Francis was solid, allowing just two runs in six innings. Four relievers threw a scoreless inning before Kim entered in the 11th frame.

Arizona's Livan Hernandez was equally impressive, as he went seven innings and did not allow a hit after the second. He yielded two runs and five hits.