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Hawpe propels Rockies past Dodgers

Aug 21, 2008 - 7:09 AM By Jonathan Raber PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Brad Hawpe singled home the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning as the Colorado Rockies took advantage of a sloppy defensive effort by the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 4-3 victory on Wednesday.

Troy Tulowitzki homered and Hawpe had three RBI for Colorado (59-69), which tied a season high with its fifth consecutive victory.

"We're in the best place we've been all year," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "Unfortunately, we're still 10 games under .500."

Their current record hasn't stopped the Rockies from trying to duplicate another magical run, similar to the one that propelled them to the World Series late last season when they closed the campaign with wins in 21 of 22 games before they were swept by the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.

"We don't come here to spend 12 hours at this park to lay down," Rockies left fielder Matt Holliday said. "We're not going to throw in the towel anytime this season."

The Dodgers' season-high four errors matched the most committed by the team in a game since August 13, 2005. Three of the miscues were by the duo of Russell Martin and Casey Blake, both of whom were playing out of position at third base and first base, respectively.

However, a throwing error by catcher Danny Ardoin - who was giving Martin a day off behind the plate - proved the most costly as he tried to catch Holliday stealing second in the ninth.

With the game tied at 3-3, Holliday reached after getting hit in the left arm with a fastball from Jonathan Broxton (3-5). On the next pitch, Holliday stole second and advanced to third when Ardoin's attempt to throw him out sailed wide right and into the outfield.

"You can't give (the Rockies) the outs we've been giving them, especially to a ballclub that can beat you up offensively," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.

One pitch later, Hawpe lined a single to right to score Holliday for his National League-leading 33rd RBI since the All-Star break.

"Hits are falling in," Hawpe said. "That's the whole key - hit them where they're not."

Taylor Buchholz (6-3) notched the win after retiring the Dodgers in order in the eighth. Brian Fuentes notched his 24th save by working a perfect ninth, capping a stretch in which Rockies pitchers retired the final 15 batters of the contest.

The bullpen has combined to fire 17 consecutive scoreless innings.

"It's the bread and butter of your ballclub," Hurdle said of his relief corps. "It just picks you up."

Juan Pierre led off the game with a single, stole second and scored on Matt Kemp's single through the right side for the 1-0 lead.

The Dodgers then took advantage of some sloppy defense in the second to make it 3-0.

With a runner on first, Martin doubled down the line in left with one out before Ardoin hit a grounder to shortstop Tulowitzki, who mishandled the ball as it rolled into center field, allowing both runners to score.

After Tulowitzki atoned for his miscue with a solo shot in the fourth, the Rockies halved the deficit in the fifth but missed an opportunity for a big inning after loading the bases with none out.

With one out, Hawpe hit a slow roller to first, which Blake bobbled and threw wide of Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley, who was covering on the play. Blake, the team's regular third baseman, was charged with an error as Omar Quintanilla came home safely.

"If teams are going to give you something, you try to take advantage of it," Holliday said.

But Billingsley avoided further damage by getting Garrett Atkins to ground into an inning-ending double play.

The Rockies evened things in the seventh when Hawpe singled to plate Willy Taveras. The run was unearned as Taveras reached first safely on a throwing error by Martin, who was starting at third for the eighth time.