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Rockies hold off Tigers; Jimenez leaves with calf injury

Jun 19, 2011 - 6:51 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Chris Nelson's sixth-inning solo homer was the difference as Colorado topped Detroit, 5-4, in the second edition of a three- game interleague series from Coors Field.

Ty Wigginton notched an RBI double and Carlos Gonzalez also drove in a run for the Rockies, who have won the first two games in the set and four straight overall.

Ubaldo Jimenez (2-7) departed in the sixth inning with a right calf cramp, but won despite allowing eight hits and three runs. He also fanned five and walked two, and helped his cause with a two-run single in a three-run second inning.

"I spent too much time on the bases," Jimenez said. "The first time, when I ran from first to third [in the second inning], that's when I started to feel it."

Huston Street allowed an RBI single to Brennan Boesch in the ninth but held on to record his 20th save.

Ryan Raburn posted a two-run double for the Tigers, who have lost three of four. Phil Coke (1-7) was tagged in defeat for four runs on five hits with seven walks over five full frames. The lefty hasn't won since April 14.

"I just didn't quite have the command that I'm known for," Coke said.

Nelson extended the Rockies' edge to 5-3 with his one-out solo homer in the sixth, and the bullpen took control from there. Matt Reynolds and Matt Belisle turned in a scoreless seventh, then Rafael Betancourt retired the side in order in the eighth.

Street set down the first two Tigers in the ninth, then issued a walk to pinch-hitter Alex Avila. He moved up on defensive indifference and scored on Boesch's line single to right. Miguel Cabrera then put a charge into a pitch but it was tracked down in left to end the game.

Colorado tallied three times in the second inning. Chris Iannetta walked to load the bases with two down, then Jimenez cracked a single to center which brought in two and Gonzalez followed with a run-scoring hit.

Detroit responded in the fourth as Victor Martinez singled, moved to second on a double play and scored on a Jhonny Peralta double.

Wigginton doubled home Troy Tulowitzki in the fifth to make it 4-1, but Detroit came within a run in the sixth.

Jimenez allowed back-to-back singles to Martinez and Andy Dirks before leaving with his injury. Matt Lindstrom entered but allowed an infield single to Peralta and Raburn's two-run double.

Game Notes

Colorado has won four of its last five meetings with Detroit since 2009...Despite the setback, the Tigers have posted an impressive 64-31 mark since interleague play began in 1997...On this date in 2010, Jimenez was 13-1 with a 1.15 earned run average...The Rockies improved to 6-3 on their current 10-game homestand.