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Four-Run First Helps Rockies Cruise Past Cardinals

POSTED: 5:39 pm MDT May 8, 2008

(Sports Network) - Garrett Atkins and Chris Iannetta each drove in a pair of runs as Colorado salvaged a split with a 9-3 win over St. Louis in the finale of a four-game set from Coors Field.

Matt Holliday added four hits and scored three times for the Rockies, who have won three of their last five. Omar Quintanilla collected three hits and scored two runs, while Todd Helton, Ryan Spilborghs and Clint Barmes knocked in a run each.

"Well, we keep having to play like this the rest of the year, as we haven't allowed ourselves much room for error," said Holliday. "We need more good starting pitching, and to give our offense a chance to score some runs. That's how we won games last year."

Starter Jorge De La Rosa (1-1) allowed five hits and two runs over 5 2/3 innings, striking out five with one walk, to notch the win for Colorado.

Ryan Ludwick homered twice and Yadier Molina added an RBI for the Cardinals, who dropped the final two games of the set.

St. Louis hurler Kyle Lohse (3-2) was tagged in the loss for eight hits and seven runs with five walks and four strikeouts in four innings of work.

"I walked five guys, and you got a guy over there (De La Rosa) with an ERA over 20 who didn't hardly walk anybody, so I don't know," groused Lohse over the strike zone of home plate umpire Mike Reilly.

Colorado picked up all the runs it would need to win with a four-run first inning.

Holliday reached on an error and scored when Helton nailed a Lohse offering off the top of the wall in right. The ball, which struck above the yellow line indicating a home run, bounced back into play for a double. After a pair of walks, Iannetta laced a two-run single and Barmes followed with an RBI double.

Ludwick launched a leadoff homer in the second to put the Cards on the board, but Colorado tacked on a fifth run in the third as Atkins led off with a triple and scored on De La Rosa's groundout.

The Rockies loaded the bases with one out against Lohse in the fourth, and got two runs after sacrifice flies by Atkins to the wall in left and Spilborghs to center.

Molina pulled the Cards within 7-2 on an RBI single in the sixth, and Ludwick's second solo homer of the game in the eighth made it a four-run affair.

Colorado removed all doubt in the eighth, scoring twice on an Atkins double which plated Quintanilla, and a wild pitch from Mike Parisi that scored Holliday.

Taylor Buchholz wrapped up the game with a scoreless ninth.

Game Notes

Holliday tied his career high with four hits, which he last accomplished on September 18, 2007 versus Los Angeles...Lohse has allowed 17 hits and 15 runs over 10 innings in his last two starts, both losses...Colorado pitching registered one walk, while St. Louis pitching issued six bases on balls...The Rockies begin a six-game road trip on Friday when they head to San Diego to begin a three-game set, while the Cardinals head to Milwaukee to begin a four-game set also Friday.

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