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Tulowitzki's double in ninth boosts Rockies

Jun 9, 2011 - 4:15 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Todd Helton finished with four hits, including a home run, and three runs scored, while Troy Tulowitzki had three hits, none bigger than his two-run double in the ninth frame, as Colorado edged San Diego, 5-3, in the finale of a three-game set at Petco Park.

Colorado's two-spot in the ninth made a winner of Matt Lindstrom (1-1), who worked around two hits to throw a scoreless frame.

"It was a good win, we needed that win," said Colorado manager Jim Tracy.

Aaron Cook made his first start of the season after suffering a fractured right fibula last September, allowing three runs on six hits with four strikeouts and four walks over 5 2/3 frames. Cook pitched for the first time since September 8, 2010. He was shut down at the beginning of spring training with a sore shoulder and then broke a finger on his pitching hand back in March. The Rockies won their first three-game series since taking two-of-three from the Cubs in mid-April (April 15-17).

His counterpart, Dustin Moseley, was hit with the injury bug, collapsing to the ground while holding his left shoulder after popping out to shortstop in the fifth frame. Heath Bell (2-2) took the loss after surrendering both ninth- inning runs. Alberto Gonzalez had two runs batted in for the Padres.

"Overall, I made some good pitches, they hit some balls where guys weren't," surmised Moseley.

The Padres struck first against the sinkerballer Cook with Ryan Ludwick singling to center and moving up to second on Nick Hundley's one-out bloop single to right. Jorge Cantu followed with a line drive for a hit to left, and Gonzalez's grounder to short allowed Ludwick to score the first run.

Colorado answered back in the third with Helton driving a low-and-in pitch out of spacious Petco Park tight to the right-field line. Tulowitzki followed with a single, moved to second on Seth Smith's base hit and came around to score when Ty Wigginton registered the third straight single. The entire rally came with two outs.

Helton and Tulowitzki were at it again in the fifth, providing the visitors with a two-run cushion. Helton drove a double past the center fielder Eric Patterson then the Rockies shortstop drove him home with a single to right.

The Padres knocked Cook out and tied the game in the sixth. Chase Headley worked a leadoff walk and moved all of the way to third on Brad Hawpe's base hit. He scored when Cook uncorked a wild pitch, and Cantu was offered an intentional free pass with two outs, but the move backfired. Matt Belisle replaced Cook and was greeted by Gonzalez's single to right, allowing Hawpe to score as Smith's throw from right short-hopped the catcher a little down the third-base line.

The Padres put a runner at third base with just one out in the eighth, but Chris Denorfia was thrown out at the plate on Hundley's grounder back to the mound. Colorado escaped that jam then took advantage of its own opportunity against the Padres closer in the ninth.

Carlos Gonzalez singled to center and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Helton was intentionally walked then both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Tulowitzki crushed a double to right, scoring both players for the final margin.

Game Notes

Helton hit his eighth home run of the season...Tulowitzki now has 36 RBI on the campaign...Cook's comeback came in the perfect park, against the perfect team. He sported a 14-4 lifetime mark and a 2.86 earned run average in 25 meetings (23 starts) against the Padres entering Wednesday. He also entered Wednesday's start with a 7-1 record and a 2.21 earned run average through 11 appearances at Petco Park...Colorado has won nine of its last 12 visits to San Diego...Hundley was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game. The club optioned outfielder Blake Tekotte to Double-A San Antonio to open a roster spot...Helton fell a triple shy of the cycle...Cook was activated from the 60-day disabled list before the game...Colorado's Charlie Blackmon singled in the second inning for his first big-leauge hit...Helton's fifth-inning double tied him for 27th on the all-time list with Hall of Famers Ducky Medwich and Dave Winfield, and Bobby Abreu with 540. He doubled again in the seventh, moving him into a 26th-place tie with Rogers Hornsby...Pitcher Greg Reynolds was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs to make room for Cook on the active roster.