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Atkins, Cook lift Rockies over Marlins

Aug 1, 2007 - 3:14 AM MIAMI (Ticker) -- Garrett Atkins helped propel Aaron Cook to his third straight win on Tuesday.

Atkins drove in three runs and Cook pitched effectively into the eighth inning as the Colorado Rockies posted a 6-3 victory over the Florida Marlins in the opener of a three-game series.

Atkins, who has now driven in eight runs over his last seven games, belted a three-run double down the left field line off Marlins starter Scott Olsen (8-9) in the third inning to give the Rockies a 4-0 advantage.

"That was a big swing of the bat from Atkins at an important time of the game for us," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said.

Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez decided to issue an intentional pass to Matt Holliday, which loaded the bases and set the stage for Atkins to hit his 24th double of the season.

"They walked Holiday and I was able to work the count," Atkins said. "He kind of left a slider over the plate and I was able to get it down the line."

Holliday, who doubled in both the fifth and seventh, is now batting .414 (12-for-29) with four home runs and 10 RBI in his last eight games.

Colorado tacked on another run in the third when rookie Troy Tulowitzki's base hit plated Atkins to extend the lead to 5-0.

"We had one good inning tonight and we were able to manufacture a run or two," Atkins said. "We played pretty good offensively."

The 28-year-old Cook (8-6) gave up three runs - two earned - and three hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

"He was very, very good tonight," Hurdle said of Cook. "He's on a roll. He's just in a good zone now ... best effort, more power, more sink, more crispness to his slider."

The righthander struggled to get through the third, surrendering a home run to Miguel Olivo and back-to-back RBI singles to Dan Uggla and Miguel Cabrera. After getting Mike Jacobs to ground into a double play to end the threat, Cook did not allow another hit until Alfredo Amezaga led off the eighth with a single.

Cook, who tossed 106 pitches, has posted a 4-1 record with a 2.49 ERA in his last seven outings.

"I was definitely frustrated earlier (in the year) when I wasn't able to execute pitches," Cook said. "I was able to really slow down today, like in my last four starts and get pitches down in the zone."

Jorge Julio recorded the final out of the eighth inning and Manny Corpas pitched a perfect ninth to register his seventh save of the season.

The Rockies got on the scoreboard early when Willy Taveras led off the game with a triple to right and then scored on Jamey Carroll's sacrifice fly.

The Marlins, who have lost seven of their last eight, cut into the deficit in the third inning. Olivo crushed a solo home run - his 10th of the season - to left and Uggla and Cabrera each collected RBI singles to pull within 5-3.

Olsen lasted just five frames, surrendering six runs and seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts. The 23-year-old lefthander has been tagged for 13 runs and 18 hits with seven walks over his last 10 innings in two starts since being arrested on July 21.

"I don't know what the feeling is (in the clubhouse)," Olsen said. "You'll have to talk to the 25 guys and see what everybody's doing. I feel fine. I threw good pitches (but) they hit them. Just another one of those days."