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Rockies scratch out win over Padres

Sep 10, 2007 - 12:57 AM By Tony Desiere PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) - The Colorado Rockies managed only four hits Sunday, but their four runs were just enough to beat the Padres.

Fueled by Garrett Atkins' two-run home run and great defense, the Rockies beat the San Diego Padres, 4-2, at Coors Field, winning the series from their National League West Division rival.

Josh Fogg (9-9) scattered seven hits, giving up only one run in five innings. The Rockies bullpen finished the job, giving up only one run to preserve the win.

"Josh had a good day," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "He had good command and I was glad to see him mix it up a bit. Not often in this park will a three-run lead stand up, but he did a great job making that happen."

"The guys behind me were outstanding," Fogg said. "I made some pitches today but when I missed a few, the guys made plays to get me out of the inning."

The Padres are now three games behind Arizona in the NL West and two games in front of Philadelphia in the wild card race.

San Diego starter Chris Young (9-7) was inconsistent with his control, but gave up only two hits and struck out eight in five innings. He also walked five and gave up three runs.

"I was better today than I have been," Young said. "I made some mistakes early and we got in a hole. Unfortunately we could not get out of it. There were times I lost my mechanics but aside from that, I thought I threw the ball pretty well."

Colorado scored three runs off Young in the in the first inning. With two outs, Young hit Matt Holliday, who proceeded to steal second base. He was driven home on an RBI single by Todd Helton. Atkins capped the inning with a homer to left-center field to give the Rockies an early 3-0 lead.

"That pitch to Atkins would have been a ball," Young said. "Sometimes you just got to tip your hat. They are a good hitting team. You kind of expect to give up runs, because they are good."

The Rockies defense helped Fogg keep the Padres off the scoreboard early on. With two on and one out in the fourth inning, Morgan Ensberg tried to score on a double to left by Michael Barrett. Holliday tracked down the ball, threw to shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who fired a dart to the plate to get Ensberg.

They weren't finished. Young hit a two-out single to center field later in the inning. With Barrett running on the hit, Rockies center fielder Ryan Spilborghs came up throwing to the plate. Chris Ianetta made the tag and the Rockies got out of the inning giving up only one run.

"With first and second and two outs, with the pitcher at the plate, I was playing a bit more shallow," Spilborghs said. "I got a good jump and was able to throw the guy out. Great way to end the inning."

"We were playing good aggressive baseball," Black said. "We forced the Rockies to make plays and they did. Tulowitzki made a great through and Spilborghs did too, but we forced them to make those plays and they did."

The Padres rallied in the eighth inning. After a walk to Ensberg, Brian Fuentes gave up back-to-back singles as the Padres cut the lead to 3-2. Manny Corpas came on in relief and proceed to get Brian Myrow to ground into the inning-ending double play.

"That was huge," Hurdle said. "We needed something to happen there and Manny got the ground ball. You take those when they are given and we were lucky to get that one."

Holliday hit his 26th home run of the year, leading off the bottom of the eighth inning, to get the run back.

Helton had two hits in the game, including a double in the sixth inning, becoming the first player in major league history to have 10 consecutive seasons with 35 or more doubles.

It's a great honor, Helton said. When you do something that no one has ever done, it's a huge accomplishment. I'm just thankful that I have been healthy for this long to be out there on the field.