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Quintanilla helps Rockies walk off with win

Aug 25, 2008 - 1:35 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Reds tried all afternoon to hand the Colorado Rockies a win until Omar Quintanilla finally took it from them.

Quintanilla blasted a 1-0 pitch from Mike Lincoln over the wall in right field to give the Rockies a 4-3 victory over the Reds on Sunday at Coors Field.

"Today was a long day, and I was the last man up," Quintanilla said. "I was out there just trying to get on base for Matty (Holliday), actually. But I got a pretty good pitch to hit and took a hack at it."

Cincinnati committed five errors in a wild game that saw the teams combine for 25 strikeouts, 17 walks, numerous passed balls and wild pitches and a slew of botched plays.

"Little bit of everything," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "A balk, wild pitch, a homer, errant throws, a walk-off home run, some errors. We played for the cycle - both teams across the board."

The Rockies rallied in the ninth inning as Holliday reached on an error, took second on a balk by David Weathers and scored after third baseman Edwin Encarnacion was unable to handle the throw from the outfield after a deep flyout by Brad Hawpe.

Ryan Speier (2-1) picked up the win, while Lincoln (1-5) took the loss.

In the bottom of the first inning, Scott Podsednik reached on a fielding error by first baseman Joey Votto before Holliday and Hawpe drew walks to load the bases. Garrett Atkins followed with a pop-up to right fielder Jay Bruce, who charged in to make the play but could not keep the ball in his glove, allowing Podsednik to score.

"We gave them all three of their first runs," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

Cincinnati benefited from an error in the fifth. Colorado starter Ubaldo Jimenez threw wild to first, allowing Encarnacion to move to third. Paul Bako gave the Reds a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly.

Rookie Chris Dickerson opened the sixth with a line-drive homer to right field for some cushion as the Rockies squandered chances to score.

Jimenez left after throwing 35 pitches in the sixth inning. But five Rockies relievers combined to allow just one hit over six frames.

"Everyone stepped up today. It was one of those tough games where you have to stay focused the whole time," said Taylor Buchholz, who tossed two hitless innings. "You never knew what was going to happen and you didn't know who was going to get called on next."

Holliday drew the Rockies back within one when he led off the seventh with a single, stole second and third on consecutive pitches and scored on a wild pitch.

"It was one of those days," said Rockies rookie infielder Ian Stewart, who collected three hits. "We got the big hits when we needed them, scoring late in the game, and then (Quintanilla) came up with that big hit. ? We're one game closer and still fighting."

Cincinnati also lost the services of rookie righthander Johnny Cueto, who left the game after three innings with soreness in his right triceps.

"He had that long inning in the third and felt some tightness in the muscle of his forearm," Baker said.