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Atkins, Rockies Down Padres

POSTED: 10:37 pm PDT May 9, 2008

(Sports Network) - Garrett Atkins went 3-for-4 with a run batted in, as Colorado took the opener of a three-game set, 4-2, from the San Diego Padres.

Brad Hawpe ended 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI for the Rockies, who have won three contests in a row. Matt Holliday added a solo homer and scored twice.

Aaron Cook (6-1) got the win after he pitched seven innings and only yielded one run on three hits. Brian Fuentes earned his fourth save of the year, despite giving up a solo homer to Kevin Kouzmanoff in the ninth.

Brian Giles hit an RBI double for the Padres, who have lost five in a row and seven of their last eight. Kouzmanoff had a solo home run in defeat.

Jake Peavy (4-2) took the loss after he was touched for three runs on seven hits in six frames.

"This is well-needed, we pitched well, we played terrific defense and got some timely hitting," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "All around good effort from everybody today."

The Padres got on the board first. Peavy hit a ground-rule double down the left field line to begin the third inning. Giles followed with another double to center to plate Peavy, and the Padres were up 1-0.

A Colorado rally gave the Rockies the lead back in the sixth. Willy Taveras led off with a single, and moved to second on a throwing error by Peavy. Omar Quintanilla then offered a sac bunt to move the runner to third. Holliday then drew a walk and stole second, followed by Todd Helton's walk to load the bases. Atkins added an RBI single and Brad Hawpe cracked a two-RBI single to right, and it was a 3-1 ballgame.

The Rockies tacked on another run in the eighth, as Holliday led off with a homer over the fence in right center-field.

San Diego made a strong run in the ninth. Fuentes came in to close it out for Colorado and got Adrian Gonzalez to ground out. Kouzmanoff, though, deposited a 1-2 fastball over the fence in left to make it 4-2.

"We had opportunities early to score some runs," Gonzalez said. "I chased some balls I shouldn't have."

Game Notes

Prior to the game, the Padres released outfielder Jim Edmonds; recalled outfielder Jody Gerut from Portland (PCL); claimed pitcher Sean Henn off waivers from the New York Yankees; purchased the contract of catcher Luke Carlin from Portland (PCL); optioned catcher Colt Morton to San Antonio (Texas)...Colorado won two of three games against the Padres from April 15-17 at Petco Park. The Rockies have won seven of the eight most recent matchups in the series...San Diego had only four hits...Attendance was 31,057.

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