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Fogg pitches Rockies past Pirates

Jul 18, 2007 - 3:34 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Josh Fogg made a triumphant return to PNC Park.

Fogg tossed seven strong innings to lead the Colorado Rockies past the reeling Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-2, on Tuesday night.

It was Fogg's first start in Pittsburgh since leaving the Pirates following the 2005 season. He spent four seasons (2002-2005) with the Pirates and joined the Rockies after the 2005 season.

Fogg allowed only two runs on five hits with five strikeouts to earn his 20th win at PNC Park, making him the winningest pitcher in the 6 1/2-plus seasons at the Pirates' stadium.

"That won't last for long," Fogg said of his PNC Park record. "There's a lot of guys over there who will pass that soon. That's four years' worth, though, that's not that great. Think about it. There's guys that win that many in a year.

"They've got some young guys over there who will be able to pass me by a lot of wins."

The Pirates took an early lead off Fogg (5-6) in the first when Freddy Sanchez singled with one out and later scored on Ryan Doumit's single.

But the Rockies came right back with four runs in the top of the second off Pittsburgh starter Shane Youman (2-1). The first four batters in the inning reached and scored.

Troy Tulowitzki singled, Yorvit Torrealba walked, Jeff Baker singled home Tulowitzki and Jamey Carroll hit a ground-rule double, scoring Torrealba to make it 2-1.

After Fogg grounded out, Willy Taveras grounded out, scoring Baker, and Ryan Spilborghs singled home Carroll to give Fogg a 4-1 cushion he would not relinquish.

Fogg has now won four of his past five decisions dating to June 13.

"He controlled their bat speed and he showed you don't have to throw 95 to do it," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "He doesn't give up on himself. He has the ability to go back and put his foot down and say, 'I've got to find a way.'

"He knew the situation tonight. He knew he had to find a way to get us six quality innings, and obviously he did better than that."

Every player in the Rockies' starting lineup - including Fogg - had at least one hit, led by Carroll, who reached base four times, drove in one run and scored one.

"The goal is to try to get on base," Carroll said. "It's not like I've been swinging the bat well lately. I'm just fortunate to finally get a couple to fall in. When you get on base, good things can happen. Fortunately, tonight they did."

Colorado tacked on its fifth run against Youman in the third when Garrett Atkins singled and later scored on a passed ball by Doumit.

Youman (2-1) lasted five innings, giving up five runs on eight hits in losing for the first time in three starts since being recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis on July 3.

Nate McLouth led off the Pirates' half of the third with his second home run of the season and first since Opening Day. But after McLouth's homer, Fogg retired 14 of the next 16 batters, including 10 in a row at one point.

"I was able to command the ball pretty good today," Fogg said. "Early on, I was overthrowing a little bit. You feel too good sometimes, and go out there and try to do a little too much. Once I got to the third inning, I was able to settle down a little bit. I was able to throw all four pitches for strikes."

"When you only have two base runners after the third inning, you're not putting yourself in a very good position to win," Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy said. "We didn't mount any kind of a threat offensively beyond the first inning."

The win ensured the Rockies of their first series win in the history of PNC Park. They had failed to win the previous eight series at PNC Park since it opened in 2001.

Xavier Nady had two hits for the Pirates, who have dropped five in a row since the All-Star break.

"Obviously coming into the (All-Star) break so strong (winning nine of 13), losing five straight after the break wasn't the way we hoped to get the second half started," McLouth said.

The game was delayed 31 minutes at the start by rain.