Wed Jul 2 23:36:23 2008

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Atkins powers Rox past Padres

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Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Garrett Atkins drove in four runs, falling a triple short of the cycle, to give the Rockies a 8-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in the rubber game of their three-game series.

Atkins had a three run homer, and Yorvit Torrealba added two hits including a home run for the Rockies, who have won two straight following their second eight game losing streak of the season.

Ubaldo Jimenez (3-8), normally one of the wildest pitchers in the league, pitched 6 1/3 solid innings, giving up only one run on five hits with four strikeouts, while also matching a season-low with one walk.

Randy Wolf (5-8) lost his fourth consecutive start, throwing only four innings and giving up seven runs on six hits with four strikeouts and four walks.

Brian Giles batted 2-for-4 and Chase Headley added his fourth home run of the season for San Diego, which has been awful of late, losing 14 of 16 games and six consecutive series.

Wolf got off to a shaky start, allowing the first three batters he faced to reach base to load the bases with nobody out. After an Atkins single gave the Rockies an early 1-0 lead, Wolf got out of the jam, striking out the next two batters and getting Torrealba to fly out to end the threat.

The Padres got the run right back in the second, as Headley hit an opposite field home run with two outs to tie the game at one.

Colorado took the lead right back in its half of the second when Matt Holliday hit an RBI single with two outs to give the Rockies a 2-1 lead.

With runners still on first and second after the Holliday single, Atkins blew the game open with a three-run homer to deep center field to give the Rockies a commanding 5-1 lead.

Troy Tulowitzki added to Colorado's scoring binge in the third when he hit his third home run of the year, a two run shot to left to give the Rockies a 7-1 lead.

Torrealba hit a solo home run in the eighth for the Rockies eighth run.

Game Notes

Before the game, Colorado placed Jeff Francis on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left shoulder...The Rockies called up Mark Redman from Colorado Springs to replace Francis...Michael Barrett left the game in the third after being struck in the face by his own foul ball. The Padres said he was being evaluated for a "fractured nose"...The Rockies lead the season series 5-4...Headley extended his hitting streak to eight, tied for the longest by a National League rookie this season.