Colorado Rockies snap 7-game losing streak, 3-2
DENVER (AP) -- Mark Sweeney's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning drove in the go-ahead run, and the Colorado Rockies ended a seven-game losing streak to the Atlanta Braves with a 3-2 win in the first game of a split doubleheader Saturday.
Vinny Castilla drew a bases-loaded walk from Mike Hampton in the fifth to tie it in Colorado's first win over Atlanta since Aug. 18, 2002.
Vladimir Nunez (3-0) worked a scoreless eighth for the win, and Shawn Chacon got three outs for his sixth save in seven chances.
With the score tied, Charles Johnson reached on an infield hit to lead off the eighth and Kit Pellow sent him to third with a one-out single to right against Chris Reitsma (1-1). Sweeney followed with a fly to center that scored Johnson and gave Colorado the lead.
The Rockies scored twice in the fifth to erase a 2-0 deficit. Pinch-hitter Todd Greene drove in Matt Holliday with a double to right to make it 2-1. Aaron Miles singled and Royce Clayton walked to load the bases, and Braves starter Mike Hampton walked Castilla to tie it.
Warm welcome
Hampton pitched the first five innings and gave up two runs and five hits in failing to pick up his first win of the season. Hampton, a member of the Rockies from 2001-2002, was booed when introduced before every plate appearance.
Joe Kennedy allowed two runs and six hits in five innings -- his shortest outing of the season for Colorado.
Atlanta scored twice in the third to take a 2-0 lead. Andruw Jones singled and J.D. Drew followed with an RBI triple. Johnny Estrada was intentionally walked, and Damon Hollins scored Drew with an RBI double to left.
Colorado had a chance to break it open with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh against Kevin Gryboski, but Castilla lined out to shortstop and Jeromy Burnitz grounded out to end the inning.
1B Julio Franco rejoined the Braves after missing the entire San Francisco with an inner-ear infection. ... Colorado reliever Tim Harikkala had a string of 22 consecutive batters retired ended when he walked Drew in the seventh. ... Clayton has a career-high 12-game hitting streak. ... Colorado's Brad Hawpe got his first major league hit.
ATLANTACOLORADO
abrhbiabrhbi
Furcal ss4010Miles 2b5020
Ritsma p0000Clayton ss4020
DeRosa 3b5000Helton 1b3000
MGiles 2b4000Castilla 3b3011
AJones cf4130Burnitz cf4000
JDrew rf3111CJhson c4110
Hssmn 1b3000Hlliday lf3110
Lroche 1b2000Hcking lf0000
JEstda c3010Pellow rf4010
JGarca ss1000JKnndy p1000
Hollins lf4021Greene ph1111
Hmptn p1000Hrkala p0000
DWise ph1000Hawpe ph1010
Alfnsca p0000VNunez p0000
Grybsk p0000MaSwy ph0001
JuFrco ph0000Chacon p0000
EddPrz c0000
Totals35282Totals333103
Atlanta002000000--2
Colorado00002001x--3
E--Clayton (2), Burnitz (1). LOB--Atlanta 14, Colorado 11. 2B--JEstrada (7), Hollins (1), Greene (3). 3B--AJones (2), JDrew (2). CS--Furcal (1). SF--MaSweeney.
IPHRERBBSO
Atlanta
Hampton552236
Alfonseca100002
Gryboski120010
Reitsma L,1-1131100
Colorado
JKennedy562244
Harikkala200010
VNunez W,3-0110012
Chacon S,6110012
HBP--by JKennedy (MGiles). Umpires--Home, Mike Winters; First, Tim Timmons; Second, Bruce Froemming; Third, Jack Samuels. T--2:50. A--30,176.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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