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Matsui, Hawpe help rally Rockies past Astros

Jun 7, 2007 - 5:42 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Kaz Matsui and Brad Hawpe delivered big blows in the seventh inning to lift the Colorado Rockies to an 8-7 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.

Matsui went 2-for-4 with two RBI, including a solo home run in the seventh to tie the game at 5-5.

Houston starter Woody Williams, who entered the game 1-2 with a 14.90 ERA in seven career starts at Coors Field, hit Matt Holliday with the first pitch following the home run by Matsui and was ejected by plate umpire C.B. Bucknor.

"I guess after a home run that's what happens," Williams said. "At that point it had gotten to the point where I was tired of giving up runs and making sure I got the ball inside and it was behind him."

"Am I surprised, no because after what happened last night it seemed a little fishy coming after a home run. I'm not surprised," Holliday said.

Garrett Atkins added a single and Hawpe then tripled to the gap in right-center to score two runs. Yorvit Torrealba capped the inning with an RBI single to make it 8-5.

"He threw a slider that was a nice pitch and I wasn't on it very good," Hawpe said. "After seeing it I thought he might throw it up there again and it happened to be in a nice spot."

"Big hit tonight, as big as any hits we had tonight," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's getting more confidence, seeing more lefthanded pitching, and he's responded with some big hits against some lefthanders in the past couple three weeks."

Lance Berkman pulled the Astros within 8-6 with a solo home run off LaTroy Hawkins in the eighth.

Taylor Buchholz (3-3) pitched a perfect seventh inning to pick up the win. Brian Fuentes allowed a homer to pinch hitter Morgan Ensberg but still earned his 17th save in 19 chances.

Williams (2-8) allowed six runs and 10 hits in six-plus innings. He is winless in his last nine starts against the Rockies.

"It's just for whatever reason the numbers aren't good. There's no rhyme or reason why the numbers are so bad, it's just one of those things I guess," Williams said.

Houston took an early lead with a three-run fourth. Colorado starter Aaron Cook retired the first 10 Astros he faced before Hunter Pence doubled to center field.

Pence scored on a single by Lance Berkman, and Mark Loretta and Adam Everett added RBI singles in the frame to give the Astros a 3-1 lead.