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Baker, Helton lift Rockies over Braves

Sep 23, 2006 - 3:19 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Perhaps Tim Hudson has epitomized how the Atlanta Braves' season has gone.

Hudson endured a rough outing as the Braves' fading playoff hopes took another hit in a 6-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies.

Entering five games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League wild card race, the Braves (75-79) received a poor outing from Hudson.

Hudson (12-12), who only allowed one run and three hits in seven innings against Florida on Sunday, could not duplicate that performance in this one. The veteran righthander allowed six runs and nine hits with four walks in 5 1/3 innings.

"The walks, and then I had trouble finding the zone for a couple hitters," Hudson said. "Any time you got bases loaded and no outs, you can't let them have those kinds of situations. That's what pretty much killed us."

Jeff Baker knocked in three runs and Todd Helton had two RBI to lead the Rockies, who won for the fourth time in six games.

"The kid Baker just continues to put good swings on pitches," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said.

Baker hit a two-run homer in the second inning to help the Rockies erase a 1-0 deficit.

After the Braves scored twice in the third, the Rockies went ahead for good in the fifth on Helton's two-run double and Baker's RBI groundout.

"I feel a lot better," Helton said. "I've got a fighting chance, a bounce in my step. I'm seeing the ball much better than earlier in the year."

Brian McCann delivered a two-run double in the third and plated another run with a two-base hit in the eighth to pace Atlanta, which had won five of its last six games.

Josh Fogg (10-9) got the win, giving up three runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.

"I was trying to keep the game as close as possible and give the team a chance offensively, and Baker had a big home run for me," Fogg said.

The Rockies improved to 20-12 at Coors Field since the All-Star break.