Athletics 10 - 8 Rockies
Final
  for this game

Inge lifts A's over Rockies

Jun 14, 2012 - 6:00 AM

Video

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Brandon Inge's two-run double in the ninth inning lifted the Oakland Athletics to a 10-8 win over the Colorado Rockies in the second of three from Coors Field.

Collin Cowgill hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth to tie the game while Brandon Moss and Seth Smith each had a two-run home run for the Athletics, who have taken the first two of this set after getting swept by Arizona.

"We feel behind a little bit early and then we battled back to where we had a chance in the ninth," said Oakland manager Bob Melvin. "Feels good that we were able to scratch this one out here."

Tom Milone lasted just four innings in the start as he gave up eight runs on seven hits with four walks. The Oakland bullpen, though, pitched five scoreless innings with Jerry Blevins (1-0) twirling two frames to get the win.

Todd Helton hit a grand slam while Michael Cuddyer went 4-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored for the Rockies, who have dropped a season-high seven straight.

"It's a tough loss but we have to come back tomorrow and try to win one here," said Helton. "This is gut-check time and we need to find a way to score more runs than the other team."

Josh Outman was touched for five runs on six hits over five innings with a walk and four strikeouts for Colorado, which has dropped nine straight home games in interleague play.

Oakland had trailed 6-2 early in the game, but chipped away at the lead and made it a one-run game heading to the ninth.

With Rafael Betancourt (1-2) on the mound, Coco Crisp led off with a single and moved to second on a Jemile Weeks sac bunt. After stealing third, Crisp beat the throw to the plate on a Cowgill sac fly to tie the game. Smith then doubled and Josh Reddick was issued an intentional walk. Inge then smacked a double down the left field line for a 10-8 lead.

Ryan Cook came on for the save in the ninth and gave up a leadoff single to Cuddyer, but Helton then hit into a double play. Jason Giambi was hit by a pitch to again bring up the tying run to the plate, but Wilin Rosario flew out to right and Cook picked up his second save of the season.

Smith hit a two-run homer in the Oakland first, but Colorado responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by Helton's grand slam and followed later by an RBI single from Outman.

Cuddyer hit a solo homer in the second to make it a four-run game, but Oakland got three back in the fourth on an Inge RBI single and two-run homer by Moss, his fourth of the year.

However, Cuddyer hit his second homer of the game in the bottom of the fourth with Marco Scutaro on base to make it an 8-5 game.

Jonny Gomes smacked a leadoff homer in the sixth and Cowgill's RBI single in the seventh made it a one-run game.

Game Notes

Moss has three home runs in the two games of this set...Helton has seven grand slams in his career...The last time these teams met was in 2009, when Colorado swept a three-game set in Oakland...Alex White pitches for Colorado on Thursday while Jarrod Parker takes the mound for Oakland.






Related News