GAME THREAD: NL: COLORADO (80-72) at SAN DIEGO (84-67)

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Hampson relieved W Ledezma.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 6
SAN DIEGO 2 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: G Atkins (.293, 1-FOR-4, HR, RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY BRAD HAWPE (28) TO CENTER WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 9TH OFF JUSTIN HAMPSON.
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 7, SAN DIEGO 2

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: R SPILBORGHS (.298, 2-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 1 4 0 0 1 0 1 7 12 0
SAN DIEGO 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 7 0 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
SDG - JUSTIN HAMPSON

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: K GREENE (.252, 0-FOR-3)
B CLARK (.234, 0-FOR-1)
J BARD (.278, 2-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">COLORADO (7) VS SAN DIEGO (2) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 3 1 0 0 2 0 1 .289
T Tulowitzki ss 4 0 1 1 0 1 3 .292
T Helton 1b 5 0 2 2 0 1 1 .317
G Atkins 3b 5 1 1 1 0 1 5 .293
B Hawpe rf 3 2 2 1 2 0 0 .288
R Spilborghs lf 5 1 3 1 0 0 0 .300
Y Torrealba c 5 1 1 1 0 1 3 .257
C Sullivan cf 3 1 1 0 1 1 2 .308
J Francis p 3 0 1 0 0 1 5 .177

Totals 36 7 12 7 5 6 20

BATTING: 2B - T Helton (40, G Maddux). 3B - R Spilborghs (1, G Maddux). HR - G
Atkins (24, 7th inning off W Ledezma 0 on, 0 Out), B Hawpe (28, 9th inning off
J Hampson 0 on, 1 Out). S - J Francis. SF - T Tulowitzki. RBI - T Helton 2
(85), R Spilborghs (50), Y Torrealba (45), T Tulowitzki (91), G Atkins (105), B
Hawpe (106). 2-out RBI - T Helton 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
G Atkins 4, J Francis 2. GIDP - Y Torrealba. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (32, 2nd base off G Maddux/J Bard), Y Torrealba
(2, 2nd base off G Maddux/J Bard).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Matsui-T Tulowitzki-T Helton).


SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
M Bradley lf 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .313
T Sledge pr-lf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .204
K Kouzmanoff 3b 4 0 3 1 0 0 0 .275
A Gonzalez 1b 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 .274
K Greene ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .252
M Cameron cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242
B Clark cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
J Bard c 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 .278
M Giles 2b 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .230
G Maddux p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .133
K Cameron p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-C Stansberry ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
W Ledezma p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-M Ensberg ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Hampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 30 2 7 2 1 8 7

a-struck out swinging for K Cameron in the 5th; b-lined out to left for W
Ledezma in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - K Kouzmanoff 3 (29, J Francis 3). HR - M Bradley (11, 3rd inning
off J Francis 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Bradley (30), K Kouzmanoff (69). 2-out RBI
- K Kouzmanoff. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Gonzalez 2, G
Maddux 1, K Greene 1. GIDP - M Giles. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Kouzmanoff-M Giles-A Gonzalez).


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 001 400 101 -- 7
SAN DIEGO - 001 000 01 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 8 7 2 2 1 8 1 4.17

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
G Maddux 3 2/3 8 5 5 2 1 0 4.10
K Cameron 1 1/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.37
W Ledezma 3 1 1 1 2 3 1 6.75
J Hampson 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 2.79

IBB - C Sullivan (by W Ledezma). Pitches-strikes: J Francis 112-75; G Maddux
81-49; K Cameron 20-13; W Ledezma 46-26; J Hampson 16-11. Ground balls-fly
balls: J Francis 13-3; G Maddux 7-3; K Cameron 1-2; W Ledezma 3-3; J Hampson
2-0. Batters faced: J Francis 31; G Maddux 21; K Cameron 6; W Ledezma 12; J
Hampson 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Hunter
Wendelstedt.
EJECTIONS: SAN DIEGO's Bradley by Winters (8th), SAN DIEGO's Black by Wendelstedt (9th).
Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Carroll at third base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 7
SAN DIEGO 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: K Greene (.252, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - PITCHING CHANGE
COL: LATROY HAWKINS (2-5, 3.27) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 7, SAN DIEGO 2

DUE UP FOR SANDIEGO: K GREENE (.252, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: L Hawkins relieved J Francis.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 7
SAN DIEGO 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: K Greene (.252, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: B Myrow hit for B Clark.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 7
SAN DIEGO 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: B Myrow (.200, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY JOSH BARD (5) TO RIGHT CENTER WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 9TH OFF LATROY HAWKINS.
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 7, SAN DIEGO 3

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: M GILES (.230, 0-FOR-2, BB)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: G Blum hit for M Giles.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 7
SAN DIEGO 3 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: G Blum (.248, 5 HR, 29 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 1 4 0 0 1 0 1 7 12 0
SAN DIEGO 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 8 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: COL - JEFF FRANCIS, LATROY HAWKINS (9TH) AND YORVIT TORREALBA

SDG - GREG MADDUX, KEVIN CAMERON (4TH), WILFREDO
LEDEZMA (6TH), JUSTIN HAMPSON (9TH) AND JOSH BARD

HOME RUNS: COL - GARRETT ATKINS (24) OFF WILFREDO LEDEZMA IN THE 7TH, 0 ON
BRAD HAWPE (28) OFF JUSTIN HAMPSON IN THE 9TH, 0 ON

SDG - MILTON BRADLEY (11) OFF JEFF FRANCIS IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
JOSH BARD (5) OFF LATROY HAWKINS IN THE 9TH, 0 ON</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 1 4 0 0 1 0 1 7 12 0
SAN DIEGO 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 8 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: COL - JEFF FRANCIS, LATROY HAWKINS (9TH) AND YORVIT TORREALBA

SDG - GREG MADDUX, KEVIN CAMERON (4TH), WILFREDO
LEDEZMA (6TH), JUSTIN HAMPSON (9TH) AND JOSH BARD


WP - JEFF FRANCIS (17-8)
LP - GREG MADDUX (13-11)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: COL - GARRETT ATKINS (24) OFF WILFREDO LEDEZMA IN THE 7TH, 0 ON
BRAD HAWPE (28) OFF JUSTIN HAMPSON IN THE 9TH, 0 ON

SDG - MILTON BRADLEY (11) OFF JEFF FRANCIS IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
JOSH BARD (5) OFF LATROY HAWKINS IN THE 9TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:50 ATT: 37,984

PROBABLES: SDG - CHRIS YOUNG (9-7, 2.83)
SFO - BARRY ZITO (9-13, 4.56)

PROBABLES: COL - JOSH FOGG (9-9, 4.99)
LOS - BRAD PENNY (16-4, 2.93)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">COLORADO (7) VS SAN DIEGO (3) - FINAL

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 3 1 0 0 2 0 1 .289
T Tulowitzki ss 4 0 1 1 0 1 3 .292
T Helton 1b 5 0 2 2 0 1 1 .317
G Atkins 3b 5 1 1 1 0 1 5 .293
J Carroll 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220
B Hawpe rf 3 2 2 1 2 0 0 .288
R Spilborghs lf 5 1 3 1 0 0 0 .300
Y Torrealba c 5 1 1 1 0 1 3 .257
C Sullivan cf 3 1 1 0 1 1 2 .308
J Francis p 3 0 1 0 0 1 5 .177
L Hawkins p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 36 7 12 7 5 6 20

BATTING: 2B - T Helton (40, G Maddux). 3B - R Spilborghs (1, G Maddux). HR - G
Atkins (24, 7th inning off W Ledezma 0 on, 0 Out), B Hawpe (28, 9th inning off
J Hampson 0 on, 1 Out). S - J Francis. SF - T Tulowitzki. RBI - T Helton 2
(85), R Spilborghs (50), Y Torrealba (45), T Tulowitzki (91), G Atkins (105), B
Hawpe (106). 2-out RBI - T Helton 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
G Atkins 4, J Francis 2. GIDP - Y Torrealba. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (32, 2nd base off G Maddux/J Bard), Y Torrealba
(2, 2nd base off G Maddux/J Bard).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Matsui-T Tulowitzki-T Helton).


SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
M Bradley lf 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .313
T Sledge pr-lf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .204
K Kouzmanoff 3b 4 0 3 1 0 0 0 .275
A Gonzalez 1b 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 .274
K Greene ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .251
M Cameron cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242
B Clark cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
c-B Myrow ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .167
J Bard c 4 1 3 1 0 1 0 .280
M Giles 2b 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .230
d-G Blum ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
G Maddux p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .133
K Cameron p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-C Stansberry ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
W Ledezma p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-M Ensberg ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Hampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 34 3 8 3 1 9 7

a-struck out swinging for K Cameron in the 5th; b-lined out to left for W
Ledezma in the 8th; c-struck out swinging for B Clark in the 9th; d-grounded
to second for M Giles in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - K Kouzmanoff 3 (29, J Francis 3). HR - M Bradley (11, 3rd inning
off J Francis 0 on, 1 Out), J Bard (5, 9th inning off L Hawkins 0 on, 2 Out).
RBI - M Bradley (30), K Kouzmanoff (69), J Bard (46). 2-out RBI - K Kouzmanoff,
J Bard. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Gonzalez 2, G Maddux 1, K
Greene 1. GIDP - M Giles. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Kouzmanoff-M Giles-A Gonzalez).


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 001 400 101 -- 7
SAN DIEGO - 001 000 011 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis (W, 17-8) 8 7 2 2 1 8 1 4.17
L Hawkins 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 3.37

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
G Maddux (L, 13-11) 3 2/3 8 5 5 2 1 0 4.10
K Cameron 1 1/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.37
W Ledezma 3 1 1 1 2 3 1 6.75
J Hampson 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 2.79

IBB - C Sullivan (by W Ledezma). Pitches-strikes: J Francis 112-75; L Hawkins
13-9; G Maddux 81-49; K Cameron 20-13; W Ledezma 46-26; J Hampson 16-11. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Francis 13-3; L Hawkins 2-0; G Maddux 7-3; K Cameron 1-2; W
Ledezma 3-3; J Hampson 2-0. Batters faced: J Francis 31; L Hawkins 4; G Maddux
21; K Cameron 6; W Ledezma 12; J Hampson 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Hunter
Wendelstedt.
EJECTIONS: SAN DIEGO's Bradley by Winters (8th), SAN DIEGO's Black by Wendelstedt (9th).
T--2:50. Att--37,984.
Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left
to right.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
COLORADO 7
SAN DIEGO 3 FINAL</div>

 

Surging Rockies complete sweep of Padres

<h3>COLORADO 7, SAN DIEGO 3</h3>By Tim Powers
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- The Colorado Rockies are officially havingtheir best season ever.


Jeff Francis tied a franchise high for wins as the Rockiesestablished a new club mark for victories with a 7-3 triumphover the reeling San Diego Padres, completing a sweep of thethree-game series on Sunday.


Colorado (84-72) won its eighth straight to tighten up analready jumbled National League playoff picture, pulling within1 1/2 games of San Diego (85-70) in the NL wild card standings.

The Padres lead Philadelphia (85-71), who lost 5-3 toWashington, by one-half game and trail Arizona (89-67) by threegames in the NL West.


The season-best winning streak for the Rockies vaulted them pastthe 1996 and 1997 teams for most wins in franchise history,with both of those clubs having won 83 games.


Francis (17-8) tossed eight superb innings, beating the Padresfor the first time in five tries this season by holding them totwo runs and seven hits. The 26-year-old lefthander walked oneand struck out eight en route to matching Kevin Ritz (1996) andPedro Astacio (1999) for single-season wins by a Coloradohurler.


The first blemish on Francis' outstanding performance was athird-inning solo shot surrendered to Milton Bradley that tiedthe game at 1-1.


Colorado answered with four in the next frame against San Diegostarter Greg Maddux, stringing together four consecutive hits totake the lead for good.


Maddux made the start despite tweaking his back in his lastouting when he caught his cleat on the mound during a pitch.The 41-year-old veteran allowed five runs and eight hits in just3 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out one.


A bizarre scene involving Bradley led to his ejection - andapparent injury - in the eighth after he reached first base on atwo-out single.


The mercurial outfielder traded barbs with first base umpireMike Winters, eventually getting tossed from the game and havingto be thrown to the ground by manager Bud Black to preventBradley from going after Winters.


Bradley grabbed his right knee after Black tackled him, and hadto be helped off the field.


Black was later ejected by third base umpire Hunter Wendelstedtfor arguing a check-swing call.


Kevin Kouzmanoff had three doubles for the Padres, who havedropped three straight and never held a lead in the series.

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COLORADO (7) AT SAN DIEGO (3) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COLORADO 3RD: C Sullivan grounded out to second. J Francis singled to left
center. K Matsui grounded into fielder's choice to second, J Francis out at
second. T Tulowitzki singled to left, K Matsui to second. T Helton doubled to
deep left, K Matsui scored, T Tulowitzki to third. G Atkins flied out to
center. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 1, SAN DIEGO 0.

SAN DIEGO 3RD: B Giles flied out to right. M Bradley homered to center.
K Kouzmanoff doubled to right. A Gonzalez struck out looking. K Greene grounded
out to third. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 1, SAN DIEGO 1.

COLORADO 4TH: B Hawpe singled to center. R Spilborghs tripled to deep
right, B Hawpe scored. Y Torrealba singled to right, R Spilborghs scored.
Y Torrealba stole second. C Sullivan singled to center, Y Torrealba to third.
J Francis sacrificed to pitcher, C Sullivan to second. K Matsui walked.
T Tulowitzki hit sacrifice fly to center, Y Torrealba scored. T Helton singled
to center, C Sullivan scored, K Matsui to third. K Cameron relieved G Maddux.
G Atkins flied out to center. (4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 5, SAN DIEGO 1.

COLORADO 7TH: G Atkins inside-the-park home run to deep center. B Clark in
center field. B Hawpe walked. R Spilborghs grounded out to second, B Hawpe to
second. Y Torrealba struck out swinging. C Sullivan intentionally walked.
J Francis struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 6, SAN DIEGO 1.

SAN DIEGO 8TH: M Ensberg hit for W Ledezma. M Ensberg lined out to left.
B Giles grounded out to second. M Bradley singled to center. San Diego's M
Bradley ejected by M Winters. T Sledge ran for M Bradley. K Kouzmanoff doubled
to deep right center, T Sledge scored. San Diego's Manager B Black ejected
by H Wendelstedt. A Gonzalez struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
COLORADO 6, SAN DIEGO 2.

COLORADO 9TH: T Sledge in left field. J Hampson relieved W Ledezma.
G Atkins struck out looking. B Hawpe homered to center. R Spilborghs singled to
center. Y Torrealba grounded into double play, third to second to first,
R Spilborghs out at second.(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 7, SAN DIEGO 2.

SAN DIEGO 9TH: J Carroll at third base. L Hawkins relieved J Francis.
K Greene grounded out to shortstop. B Myrow hit for B Clark. B Myrow struck out
swinging. J Bard homered to right center. G Blum hit for M Giles. G Blum
grounded out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 7, SAN DIEGO 3.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COLORADO (7) AT SAN DIEGO (3) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Colorado Starting Lineups -- K Matsui 2B, T Tulowitzki SS, T Helton 1B,
G Atkins 3B, B Hawpe RF, R Spilborghs LF, Y Torrealba C, C Sullivan CF,
J Francis LHP.

San Diego Starting Lineups -- B Giles RF, M Bradley LF, K Kouzmanoff 3B,
A Gonzalez 1B, K Greene SS, M Cameron CF, J Bard C, M Giles 2B, G Maddux RHP.

Umpires -- Brian Runge (HP), Mike Winters (1B), Bruce Froemming (2B), Hunter
Wendelstedt (3B).

Gametime Weather: 70 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind left to right at 7 mph.


COLORADO 1ST: K Matsui walked. K Matsui stole second. T Tulowitzki struck
out looking. T Helton grounded out to third. G Atkins lined out to right.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, SAN DIEGO 0.

SAN DIEGO 1ST: B Giles grounded out to first. M Bradley grounded out to
shortstop. K Kouzmanoff doubled to deep left center. A Gonzalez grounded out
to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, SAN DIEGO 0.

COLORADO 2ND: B Hawpe grounded out to pitcher. R Spilborghs grounded out
to pitcher. Y Torrealba grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
COLORADO 0, SAN DIEGO 0.

SAN DIEGO 2ND: K Greene grounded out to third. M Cameron struck out
swinging. J Bard singled to right. M Giles walked, J Bard to second.
G Maddux grounded into fielder's choice to second, M Giles out at second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, SAN DIEGO 0.

COLORADO 3RD: C Sullivan grounded out to second. J Francis singled to left
center. K Matsui grounded into fielder's choice to second, J Francis out at
second. T Tulowitzki singled to left, K Matsui to second. T Helton doubled to
deep left, K Matsui scored, T Tulowitzki to third. G Atkins flied out to
center. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 1, SAN DIEGO 0.

SAN DIEGO 3RD: B Giles flied out to right. M Bradley homered to center.
K Kouzmanoff doubled to right. A Gonzalez struck out looking. K Greene grounded
out to third. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 1, SAN DIEGO 1.

COLORADO 4TH: B Hawpe singled to center. R Spilborghs tripled to deep
right, B Hawpe scored. Y Torrealba singled to right, R Spilborghs scored.
Y Torrealba stole second. C Sullivan singled to center, Y Torrealba to third.
J Francis sacrificed to pitcher, C Sullivan to second. K Matsui walked.
T Tulowitzki hit sacrifice fly to center, Y Torrealba scored. T Helton singled
to center, C Sullivan scored, K Matsui to third. K Cameron relieved G Maddux.
G Atkins flied out to center. (4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 5, SAN DIEGO 1.

SAN DIEGO 4TH: M Cameron grounded out to shortstop. J Bard singled to
left. M Giles grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Bard
out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 5, SAN DIEGO 1.

COLORADO 5TH: B Hawpe walked. R Spilborghs singled to left, B Hawpe to
second. Y Torrealba grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, R Spilborghs
out at second, B Hawpe to third. C Sullivan struck out swinging. J Francis
flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 5, SAN DIEGO 1.

SAN DIEGO 5TH: C Stansberry hit for K Cameron. C Stansberry struck out
swinging. B Giles grounded out to shortstop. M Bradley struck out looking.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 5, SAN DIEGO 1.

COLORADO 6TH: W Ledezma relieved K Cameron. K Matsui grounded out to third.
T Tulowitzki popped out to second. T Helton struck out looking. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 5, SAN DIEGO 1.

SAN DIEGO 6TH: K Kouzmanoff flied out to left. A Gonzalez struck out
swinging. K Greene struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 5,
SAN DIEGO 1.

COLORADO 7TH: G Atkins inside-the-park home run to deep center. B Clark in
center field. B Hawpe walked. R Spilborghs grounded out to second, B Hawpe to
second. Y Torrealba struck out swinging. C Sullivan intentionally walked.
J Francis struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 6, SAN DIEGO 1.

SAN DIEGO 7TH: B Clark grounded out to first. J Bard struck out swinging.
M Giles grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 6,
SAN DIEGO 1.

COLORADO 8TH: K Matsui flied out to left. T Tulowitzki flied out to right.
T Helton grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 6,
SAN DIEGO 1.

SAN DIEGO 8TH: M Ensberg hit for W Ledezma. M Ensberg lined out to left.
B Giles grounded out to second. M Bradley singled to center. San Diego's
M Bradley ejected by M Winters. T Sledge ran for M Bradley. K Kouzmanoff doubled
to deep right center, T Sledge scored. San Diego's Manager B Black ejected by
H Wendelstedt. A Gonzalez struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
COLORADO 6, SAN DIEGO 2.

COLORADO 9TH: T Sledge in left field. J Hampson relieved W Ledezma.
G Atkins struck out looking. B Hawpe homered to center. R Spilborghs singled to
center. Y Torrealba grounded into double play, third to second to first,
R Spilborghs out at second.(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 7, SAN DIEGO 2.

SAN DIEGO 9TH: J Carroll at third base. L Hawkins relieved J Francis.
K Greene grounded out to shortstop. B Myrow hit for B Clark. B Myrow struck out
swinging. J Bard homered to right center. G Blum hit for M Giles. G Blum
grounded out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 7, SAN DIEGO 3.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">COLORADO (7) VS SAN DIEGO (3) - FINAL

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 3 1 0 0 2 0 1 .289
T Tulowitzki ss 4 0 1 1 0 1 3 .292
T Helton 1b 5 0 2 2 0 1 1 .317
G Atkins 3b 5 1 1 1 0 1 5 .293
J Carroll 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220
B Hawpe rf 3 2 2 1 2 0 0 .288
R Spilborghs lf 5 1 3 1 0 0 0 .300
Y Torrealba c 5 1 1 1 0 1 3 .257
C Sullivan cf 3 1 1 0 1 1 2 .308
J Francis p 3 0 1 0 0 1 5 .177
L Hawkins p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 36 7 12 7 5 6 20

BATTING: 2B - T Helton (40, G Maddux). 3B - R Spilborghs (1, G Maddux). HR - G
Atkins (24, 7th inning off W Ledezma 0 on, 0 Out), B Hawpe (28, 9th inning off
J Hampson 0 on, 1 Out). S - J Francis. SF - T Tulowitzki. RBI - T Helton 2
(85), R Spilborghs (50), Y Torrealba (45), T Tulowitzki (91), G Atkins (105), B
Hawpe (106). 2-out RBI - T Helton 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
G Atkins 4, J Francis 2. GIDP - Y Torrealba. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (32, 2nd base off G Maddux/J Bard), Y Torrealba
(2, 2nd base off G Maddux/J Bard).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Matsui-T Tulowitzki-T Helton).


SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
M Bradley lf 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .313
T Sledge pr-lf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .204
K Kouzmanoff 3b 4 0 3 1 0 0 0 .275
A Gonzalez 1b 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 .274
K Greene ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .251
M Cameron cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242
B Clark cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
c-B Myrow ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .167
J Bard c 4 1 3 1 0 1 0 .280
M Giles 2b 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .230
d-G Blum ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
G Maddux p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .133
K Cameron p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-C Stansberry ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
W Ledezma p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-M Ensberg ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Hampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 34 3 8 3 1 9 7

a-struck out swinging for K Cameron in the 5th; b-lined out to left for W
Ledezma in the 8th; c-struck out swinging for B Clark in the 9th; d-grounded
to second for M Giles in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - K Kouzmanoff 3 (29, J Francis 3). HR - M Bradley (11, 3rd inning
off J Francis 0 on, 1 Out), J Bard (5, 9th inning off L Hawkins 0 on, 2 Out).
RBI - M Bradley (30), K Kouzmanoff (69), J Bard (46). 2-out RBI - K Kouzmanoff,
J Bard. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Gonzalez 2, G Maddux 1, K
Greene 1. GIDP - M Giles. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Kouzmanoff-M Giles-A Gonzalez).


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 001 400 101 -- 7
SAN DIEGO - 001 000 011 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis (W, 17-8) 8 7 2 2 1 8 1 4.17
L Hawkins 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 3.37

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
G Maddux (L, 13-11) 3 2/3 8 5 5 2 1 0 4.10
K Cameron 1 1/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.37
W Ledezma 3 1 1 1 2 3 1 6.75
J Hampson 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 2.79

IBB - C Sullivan (by W Ledezma). Pitches-strikes: J Francis 112-75; L Hawkins
13-9; G Maddux 81-49; K Cameron 20-13; W Ledezma 46-26; J Hampson 16-11. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Francis 13-3; L Hawkins 2-0; G Maddux 7-3; K Cameron 1-2; W
Ledezma 3-3; J Hampson 2-0. Batters faced: J Francis 31; L Hawkins 4; G Maddux
21; K Cameron 6; W Ledezma 12; J Hampson 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Hunter
Wendelstedt.
EJECTIONS: SAN DIEGO's Bradley by Winters (8th), SAN DIEGO's Black by Wendelstedt (8th).
T--2:50. Att--37,984.
Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left
to right.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL COLORADO AT SAN DIEGO
NOTE: SAN DIEGO LEFT FIELDER MILTON BRADLEY WAS EJECTED BY
FIRST BASE UMPIRE MIKE WINTERS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH INNING FOR
ARGUING A CALL FROM A PREVIOUS AT-BAT.</div>

 

Surging Rockies complete sweep of Padres

<h3>COLORADO 7, SAN DIEGO 3</h3>By Tim Powers
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - The Colorado Rockies are officially havingtheir best season ever.


Jeff Francis tied a franchise high for wins as the Rockiesestablished a club mark for victories with a 7-3 triumph overthe reeling San Diego Padres, completing a sweep of thethree-game series on Sunday.


Colorado (84-72) won its eighth straight game to tighten up analready jumbled National League playoff picture, pulling within1 1/2 games of San Diego (85-70) in the NL wild card standings.

"All we can do is try to win games," Francis said. "That's allthat is in our control. We've just got to keep playing hard andkeep winning."


The Padres lead Philadelphia (85-71) - which lost 5-3 toWashington - by one-half game in the wild card race and trailArizona (89-67) by three games in the NL West.


"We lost three in a row, but we still just had a pretty goodhomestand," Padres starting pitcher Greg Maddux said. "If wekind of go by the loss column and not the half-game or whatever,I think we're still up one or two or whatever. We're still ingood position to make it to the postseason."


The season-best winning streak for the Rockies vaulted them pastthe 1996 and 1997 teams for most wins in franchise history,with both of those clubs having won 83 games.


"We still have unfinished business," Rockies manager ClintHurdle said. "We haven't gotten involved in the math. We haveto win games. That's where our focus is."


Francis (17-8) tossed eight superb innings, beating the Padresfor the first time in five tries this season by holding them totwo runs and seven hits. The 26-year-old lefthander walked oneand struck out eight en route to matching Kevin Ritz (1996) andPedro Astacio (1999) for single-season wins by a Coloradohurler.


"I think I had better fastball command today," Francis said. "Iwas ahead of a lot of guys, and got a lot of ground balls tothe infielders. It helps pitching with a three-run lead most ofthe game."


The first blemish on Francis' outstanding performance was athird-inning solo shot surrendered to Milton Bradley that tiedthe game at 1-1.


Colorado answered with four runs in the next frame againstMaddux, stringing together four consecutive hits to take thelead for good.


Maddux made the start despite tweaking his back in his lastouting, when he caught his cleat on the mound during a pitch.

The 41-year-old veteran allowed five runs and eight hits in just3 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out one.


"I didn't make good pitches when I had to," Maddux said. "Iwasn't able to make a good pitch and limit the damage or maybegive up one instead of three or four."


A bizarre scene involving Bradley led to his ejection - andapparent injury - in the eighth inning after he reached firstbase on a two-out single.


The mercurial outfielder traded barbs with first base umpireMike Winters, arguing about whether Bradley had tossed his battoward home plate umpire Brian Runge after striking out in theprevious at-bat.


Winters eventually tossed Bradley, who had to be restrained andwas thrown to the ground by Padres manager Bud Black.

Bradley grabbed his right knee after going down, and had to behelped off the field. He will have an MRI exam on Monday.

"I think there was a heated conversation between Winters andMilton," Black said. "I'm not quite sure what it was. I wastrying to pull Milton away from the argument. That's what I wastrying to do. I wasn't trying to tackle him."


Bradley claimed Winters used swear words to call him a name towhich he took exception.


"(Winters) needs to be reprimanded," Bradley said. "I'm goingto take some action. I'm not going to stand back and acceptthis, because I didn't do nothing wrong. I'll figure it out.

"This is the most unprofessional and most ridiculous thing Ihave ever seen. He's going to kick me out of the game, forwhat, because he called me a 'piece of (expletive)?' He'll lieand say, 'I didn't say it.' That's all they ever do."

Crew chief Bruce Froemming would not make Winters available tothe media but did comment on the altercation.


"Winters told (Bradley) to knock it off and he continued it,"Froemming said. "There is no covering up what he did. He hadto be physically restrained. We're not going to put up withit."


Black later was ejected by third base umpire Hunter Wendelstedtfor arguing a check-swing call.


Kevin Kouzmanoff had three doubles for the Padres, who neverheld a lead in the series.