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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DENVER (AP) -- Even on an off night, Todd Helton was a picture of
production.
Helton drove in three runs while going 1-for-4 Saturday night
and the Colorado Rockies got another strong performance from Julian
Tavarez in a 10-3 victory over the Florida Marlins.
Helton's major league-leading average dropped two points to .397
as he extended his hitting streak to 11 games. He had an RBI
groundout, a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single.
"When you talk about Helton, you think about him hitting .390
or whatever's he's hitting and driving in runs," Rockies manager
Buddy Bell said. "But he understands situations as well as anybody
we've got on the club."
Tavarez (8-2), a middle reliever promoted to the starting
rotation three weeks ago, improved to 3-0 in five starts. He gave
up two runs (one earned) and six hits in six innings.
"From the first time they made me a starter, I just put
everything behind," the right-hander said. "I told myself, `I'm a
starter.' I didn't think, 'Oh, God, it's going to be tough because
I used to pitch one inning, two innings.' I don't put it in my
head."
Marlins starter Reid Cornelius (3-6) pitched well before
faltering in the sixth. With Florida trailing 3-2, he retired the
first two hitters but walked Jeff Cirillo and surrendered a two-run
homer to Todd Walker.
Cornelius gave up five runs (four earned) and remained winless
in his last eight starts. He still managed to impress his manager.
"I thought he was outstanding," Florida manager John Boles
said. "He should have been throwing goose eggs until that two-run
home run. Until that point, he threw well enough to get a
shutout."
Preston Wilson's RBI single pulled the Marlins to 5-3 in the
seventh, but the Rockies broke it open with a five-run eighth
highlighted by Helton's RBI single and Juan Pierre's two-run
single, his third hit of the game.
Helton, bidding to become the first player in 59 years to hit
.400, grounded out to second to drive in a run in the first. His
sacrifice fly to the base of the right-field wall gave the Rockies
a 3-1 lead in the third.
"Everyone realizes the job in certain situations, and that's
what you're trying to do," Helton said. "As long as you get it
done, it's a good at-bat."
Facing Helton for the first time in his career, Cornelius said
he felt fortunate to escape relatively unscathed.
"I threw Helton everything I had in my arsenal and he was on
everything," he said. "I threw him up, down, in, out, back and
forth. When a guy is hot all you can do is try and make good
pitches and hope he hits it at somebody."
Mike Lowell made it 3-2 in the fourth with an RBI double.
Game notes
Tavarez's ERA in five starts improved to 1.74. ... Pierre
extended his hitting streak to 12 games. ... Marlins OF Cliff
Floyd, on the DL with a knee injury, took batting practice Saturday
and could return next Friday. ... Helton's hitting could be having
an effect at the ticket windows. Despite going head-to-head with a
Denver Broncos preseason game, the two non-playoff contenders drew
40,684. ... The Marlins were 2-for-11 with runners in scoring
position.
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