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BASEBALL
: Atkins, Rockies down Padres
San Diego, CA - Garrett Atkins went 3-for-4 with a run
batted in, as Colorado took the opener of a three-game set, 4-2, from the San
Diego Padres.
Brad Hawpe ended 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI for the Rockies, who have won
three contests in a row. Matt Holliday added a solo homer and scored twice.
Aaron Cook (6-1) got the win after he pitched seven innings and only yielded
one run on three hits. Brian Fuentes earned his fourth save of the year,
despite giving up a solo homer to Kevin Kouzmanoff in the ninth.
Brian Giles hit an RBI double for the Padres, who have lost five in a row and
seven of their last eight. Kouzmanoff had a solo home run in defeat.
Jake Peavy (4-2) took the loss after he was touched for three runs on seven
hits in six frames.
"This is well-needed, we pitched well, we played terrific defense and got
some timely hitting," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "All around good
effort from everybody today."
The Padres got on the board first. Peavy hit a ground-rule double down the
left field line to begin the third inning. Giles followed with another double
to center to plate Peavy, and the Padres were up 1-0.
A Colorado rally gave the Rockies the lead back in the sixth. Willy Taveras
led off with a single, and moved to second on a throwing error by Peavy. Omar
Quintanilla then offered a sac bunt to move the runner to third. Holliday then
drew a walk and stole second, followed by Todd Helton's walk to load the
bases. Atkins added an RBI single and Brad Hawpe cracked a two-RBI single to
right, and it was a 3-1 ballgame.
The Rockies tacked on another run in the eighth, as Holliday led off with a
homer over the fence in right center-field.
San Diego made a strong run in the ninth. Fuentes came in to close it out for
Colorado and got Adrian Gonzalez to ground out. Kouzmanoff, though, deposited
a 1-2 fastball over the fence in left to make it 4-2.
"We had opportunities early to score some runs," Gonzalez said. "I chased some
balls I shouldn't have."
Game Notes
Prior to the game, the Padres released outfielder Jim Edmonds; recalled
outfielder Jody Gerut from Portland (PCL); claimed pitcher Sean Henn off
waivers from the New York Yankees; purchased the contract of catcher Luke
Carlin from Portland (PCL); optioned catcher Colt Morton to San Antonio
(Texas)...Colorado won two of three games against the Padres from April 15-17
at Petco Park. The Rockies have won seven of the eight most recent matchups in
the series...San Diego had only four hits...Attendance was 31,057.
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