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Atkins, Rockies crush Padres

Fri 29th, August 2008

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Garrett Atkins had two homers and five runs batted in to give the Rockies a 9-4 victory over the San Diego Padres in the opener of a weekend series at PETCO Park.

Seth Smith had a pinch-hit two-RBI double while Matt Holliday scored two runs for the Rockies, who are 10-3 in their last 13 games and are only six games behind the division-leading Diamondbacks, who bested Los Angeles Friday night.

Aaron Cook (16-8) continued his excellent season, throwing six innings and allowing two runs and five hits with three strikeouts and two walks. The Colorado righty is now second in the National League in wins.

"I've been working hard to get back to where I need to be physically," Cook said. "(When I come) to San Diego, my body feels better. You can get away with a few more mistakes here than you can in other ballparks."

Dirk Hayhurst (0-1) allowed four runs on five hits in four innings pitched while striking out four and walking four.

Kevin Kouzmanoff went 2-for-4 with a run scored while Nick Hundley homered for the Padres, who have lost eight of 11.

"I think as we move into September you'll see some more players getting an opportunity to play," said Padres manager Bud Black. "There's a bunch of guys now getting an opportunity to show what they can do."

The Rockies took the lead in the third. Clint Barmes reached on an infield single and advanced to second on Kouzmanoff's errant throw from third. Willy Taveras followed with an RBI double to tie the game at one.

Three batters later, with runners on second and third, Atkins crushed a three- run homer off Hayhurst to give Colorado a 4-1 lead.

With a man on first and two outs in the home half of the third, Kouzmanoff and Adrian Gonzalez hit back-to-back singles to bring the Padres within two.

Hundley made it a 4-3 game in the seventh, leading off the inning with his fourth home run of the season.

Colorado added some insurance runs in the eighth. Brad Hawpe led off with an infield single, and Justin Hampson was replaced by Clay Hensley. Hensley quickly struck out Atkins, and allowed Hawpe to advance to second on a wild pitch. After an intentional and an unintentional walk to load the bases with one out, he struck out Tulowitzki for the second out.

But Hensley couldn't get out of the inning unscathed, allowing a pinch-hit double to Smith to make it a 6-3 game in favor of the Rockies. Hundley allowed a passed ball from new pitcher Brian Falkenborg to allow the seventh run for Colorado.

The Padres made it 7-4 in the home eighth on a sacrifice fly from Chase Headley.

Atkins added his second homer of the game -- a two-run shot off Falkenborg in the ninth -- to cap the scoring at 9-4.

San Diego took the lead in the second. Will Venable hit a one-out triple to deep right field and scored on a wild pitch from Cook.

Game Notes

The Rockies lead the season series 7-6...Atkins' homers were the first for Colorado since Monday. It was his fifth career multi-homer game...Holliday stole two bases in Friday's game, giving him 25 on the season, a career-high.

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