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Saturday, Jul. 22 8:05pm ET
Hunter gets things started in Colorado win | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DENVER (AP) -- Brian Hunter and Neifi Perez solved the Colorado Rockies' problems at the top of the batting order. They got on base a combined seven times Saturday night as Colorado ended a three-game losing streak with a 9-4 victory over the San Diego Padres. "We got our first two guys on, something that we hadn't be able to do during the stretch," said Colorado manager Buddy Bell, whose team lost 13 of its previous 15 games. "Brian and Neifi had big games for us and we were able to get the offense kick started." Hunter went 2-for-5 and also reached on an error and a fielder's choice. Perez was 3-for-4 with a sacrifice bunt. "I know as a leadoff man, my job is to get on base and try to cause havoc and score some runs," said Hunter, who moved into the starting lineup in center field ahead of slumping Tom Goodwin, who is in a 2-for-24 skid. "I was able to get on base and the guys behind me delivered." Todd Helton went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer and Larry Walker added three RBI. "I think one the biggest keys to our offense getting going,is the leadoff guy getting on," Helton said. "We're lucky to have two good leadoff hitters." Brent Mayne also had three hits and drove in two runs for the Rockies, who won for only the third time in 16 games. Gabe White (7-1) allowed two hits in 2 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out three to earn the win in relief. Ryan Klesko had two hits and drove in three runs and Phil Nevin added two hits, including his 19th home run for the Padres. Matt Clement (9-9) lasted four innings and allowed eight runs -- seven earned -- and 11 hits. "Matt just couldn't get it going," San Diego manager Bruce Bochy said. "He struggled. He was erratic, but we battled back and a break here or there and we're right back in it." The Padres took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Eric Owens singled, moved to second on a groundout and scored on Klesko's double. Helton's 24th homer highlighted a four-run bottom half. Hunter singled and Perez doubled to open the inning. Hunter came home on Walker's groundout and after Jeff Cirillo walked on four pitches, Helton hit an 0-2 fastball into the right-field seats. "Your first at-bat is always very important," Helton said. "To get a hit and have a good at-bat sort of sets the tone for the rest of the day." Walker singled off Clement's glove with two outs in the second to score Hunter, extending the lead to 5-1. Nevin hit a two-out solo homer in the third. In the bottom half, Mayne drove in a run with a single, then scored when third baseman Nevin mishandled Hunter's grounder. An inning later, Mayne's two-out RBI single made it 8-2. Klesko's two-run double in the fifth cut it to 8-4. The Rockies escaped further damage when Klesko was thrown out at the plate on a relay by second baseman Mike Lansing. Walker's sacrifice fly in the seventh extended the lead to 9-4.
Game notes | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard San Diego Clubhouse Colorado Clubhouse RECAPS Kansas City 8 Detroit 5
Detroit 10
Colorado 9
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