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Helton, Rockies slam Medlen, Braves 9-0

May 22, 2009 - 7:45 AM By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA(AP) -- While Aaron Cook kept hitting the corners, Kris Medlen kept hitting the backstop.

The contrast in control made for an easy win for Colorado.

Cook pitched a four-hit shutout and Todd Helton hit a grand slam to help the Rockies beat the Atlanta Braves 9-0 on Thursday night.

Cook (3-1) retired the final 16 batters for his second career shutout. He had 20 groundouts and did not allow a baserunner to advance past second for his first win in eight career starts against Atlanta.

"We played as good a game as we can play," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said of his team's dominant pitching, errorless defense and six extra-base hits, including three triples.

Jeff Francoeur singled with two outs in the fourth and then Cook, who leaned on his sinker, retired everyone else. The only other hits that Cook gave up were a single to Chipper Jones in the first and back-to-back singles by Francoeur and Jordan Schafer in the second.

"When he's got that sinker with that late movement, it's every bit as good as it gets in this game," said Braves catcher Brian McCann. "He baited us and made us swing at tough pitches."

Colorado second baseman Clint Barmes had 10 assists.

Helton had three hits and drove in five runs as the Rockies spoiled Kris Medlen's major league debut.

Medlen (0-1) gave up five runs in three innings. He left after facing four batters in the fourth.

The 23-year-old Medlen earned his promotion by posting a 5-0 record with a 1.19 in eight games with Triple-A Gwinnett near Atlanta. His major league debut included two wild pitches that went to the backstop, a hit batter, a balk and five walks - all while recording only nine outs.

"I can't explain it but whatever it was, it's unacceptable," Medlen said.

"I felt fine. I can't explain what happened. ... The wheels fell off."

Phillies 12, Reds 5=

At Cincinnati, Chase Utley homered and drove in four runs, and the Phillies' powerful offense overcame another disappointing performance by a starter.

Utley had a two-run single and a double off Micah Owings (3-5), who got nine outs and showed the strain of throwing a lot of innings lately. Utley also had one of the Phillies' four solo homers - Greg Dobbs, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez connected, as well.

Jimmy Rollins had four hits, scored twice and drove in a run as he and Utley - the top two batters in the order - led the NL's highest-scoring offense.

Nationals 5, Pirates 4=

At Washington, Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn had RBI singles in the eighth inning, helping the Nationals end a seven-game skid with a come-from-behind victory over the Pirates.

Cristian Guzman started the decisive rally in the eighth with a one-out single off Tom Gorzelanny (1-1) and moved to second on Nick Johnson's single to center. Zimmerman followed with a tying single to right, the 39th straight game he has reached base safely. Dunn put Washington ahead with the fourth straight single of the inning.

Julian Tavarez (1-3) got the victory with 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief. Joel Hanrahan got three outs for his fourth save in seven opportunities.

Adam LaRoche homered for the Pirates, who had won five straight.

Diamondbacks 4, Marlins 3=

At Miami, Mark Reynolds hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Diamondbacks took advantage of the Marlins' weary bullpen to rally for a victory.

Reynolds' home run came off Cristhian Martinez, making his major league debut. Florida's relievers were spent after a doubleheader split Wednesday, capped by Arizona's victory in a 13-inning nightcap that ended at 1:48 a.m.

The Diamondbacks' Clay Zavada (1-0) also made his major league debut and pitched a perfect seventh.

Cardinals 3, Cubs 1=

At St. Louis, Adam Wainwright came within an out of the St. Louis Cardinals' second complete game during a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs and Albert Pujols hit a first-inning homer that knocked out the "I" on the Big Mac Land sign in left field.

Wainwright (4-2) allowed five hits in 8 2-3 innings, striking out seven with one walk before Ryan Franklin got Milton Bradley to line out with a man on for his 11th save in 12 chances. The Cubs were limited to two runs in the series and have lost four in a row for the second time this season.

Brewers 4, Astros 3=

At Houston, Prince Fielder drove in two with a single and Corey Hart had an RBI double in a three-run seventh, and the Brewers rallied for a win over the Astros.

Hunter Pence and Miguel Tejada homered for the Astros, who blew a 3-0 lead after manager Cecil Cooper and first baseman Lance Berkman were ejected for arguing a close call at home plate.

Fielder tied the game with his hit against Houston reliever Tim Byrdak and Hart's hit off Chris Sampson gave Milwaukee its first lead. Astros reliever Jeff Fulchino (0-1) took the loss after hitting Ryan Braun with a pitch earlier in the inning.

Padres 3, Giants 2=

At San Diego, Scott Hairston singled in the winning run to cap a two-run rally in the ninth inning.

Hairston's bases-loaded single with two outs off Brian Wilson (2-3) gave the Padres their season-high sixth straight win on a day when ace pitcher Jake Peavy nixed a trade so that he could stay with the Padres.

Before extending its winning streak, San Diego retained Peavy when he turned down a trade to the Chicago White Sox, choosing Thursday to remain with his longtime team. The Padres and White Sox had reached an agreement, but needed the 2007 Cy Young Award winner to waive his no-trade clause.