Rockies bounce back from late night, beat Astros 11-5 behind Tulowitzki, Atkins
By CHRIS DUNCAN | Associated Press | Apr 18, 08 10:33 PM CDT in
Sports
The Colorado Rockies didn't look tired on Friday night.
Troy Tulowitzki had two doubles and three RBIs, Garrett Atkins had an RBI single and a two-run homer and the Rockies beat the Houston Astros 11-5 less than 20 hours after winning a 22-inning marathon in San Diego.
Jeff Baker and Chris Iannetta had two RBIs apiece as Colorado won in Minute Maid Park for just the third time in its last 14 games here.
The Rockies arrived in Houston about 8:30 a.m. Friday after beating the Padres 2-1 in a game that lasted over six hours and ended about 3:30 a.m. Texas time. Colorado's team bus got caught in morning rush-hour traffic heading to the team hotel.
But the Astros were the ones who looked sluggish, mustering only three hits after scoring four in the first inning off starter Franklin Morales (1-1). Morales gave up five hits with two strikeouts and four walks in five innings. Colorado's bullpen, a night after pitching 15 innings, gave up only two hits over the last four innings.
Houston starter Chris Sampson (0-2) was pulled in the first inning after giving up six runs and six hits. Brian Moehler pitched two good innings in relief of Sampson before giving up three runs in the fourth.
The Rockies finished with 12 hits and topped 10 runs for the fourth time in eight games.
Colorado loaded the bases with its first three hitters as Sampson gave up a walk and two singles.
Atkins struck out, but Tulowitzki's two-run double to the left-field corner to put Colorado up 2-0. Baker followed with a two-run single, prompting a mound visit from Houston pitching coach Dewey Robinson.
Clint Barmes singled before Iannetta doubled to left-center to make it 6-0. Morales grounded out, but Scott Podsednik walked for the second time in the inning and manager Cecil Cooper brought in Moehler. Former Astro Willy Taveras flew out on Moehler's first pitch.
Lance Berkman and Hunter Pence had RBI doubles in Houston's four-run first. Pence, who came into the game batting .161, went 3-for-4 in the game and scored two runs.
Moehler retired eight of 10 batters before the Rockies added to their lead in the fourth.
Ryan Spilborghs singled, stole second and scored on Atkins' single to center for a 7-4 lead. Tulowitzki and Barmes added RBI doubles before Cooper replaced Moehler with Dave Borkowski.
Morales allowed only one hit over his last four innings and retired the last seven batters he faced. Matt Herges relieved before the Astros sixth.
Atkins hit a two-run homer in the eighth off Astros reliever Wesley Wright. Mark Loretta had an RBI double off Micah Bowie in the Astros eighth.
Notes:@ Colorado manager Clint Hurdle rested regulars Todd Helton, Matt Holliday and C Yorvit Torrealba, who played all 22 innings in Thursday's game. ... 2B Kazuo Matsui, who played for Colorado last year, was activated from the disabled list and went 0-for-3 in his first start for the Astros. He bobbled a grounder in the second inning, the Astros' sixth error of the season. To make room for Matsui on the roster, the Astros designated C Humberto Quintero for assignment. ... Pence had his first multi-hit game since April 2. ... The Rockies have not allowed a home run in five straight games.
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