Rockies beat Mariners 7-1 for 11th straight win

[June 15, 2009]  DENVER (AP) -- Garrett Atkins and Todd Helton had three hits each and the Colorado Rockies beat the Seattle Mariners 7-1 on Sunday, matching the franchise record with their 11th straight win.

Brad Hawpe doubled twice and Clint Barmes had two hits for Colorado, which has swept three straight series and is 13-4 under interim manager Jim Tracy.

The Rockies won 11 straight from Sept. 16-27, 2007, when they surged to the NL Wild Card. They won 14 of their last 15 that season, including a one-game playoff against San Diego to win the Wild Card.

Colorado then won seven straight playoff games, sweeping Philadelphia in the NL Divisional playoff and Arizona in the NLCS before being swept by Boston in the World Series.

The Rockies' 11 consecutive wins ties the Red Sox for the longest win streak in the majors this year. The Red Sox won 11 in a row from April 15-27.

Jason Hammel (4-3) gave up one run on five hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out six and didn't walk a batter to earn his fourth straight win.

Seattle starter Jason Vargas (2-2) gave up seven runs and 12 hits, walked two and struck out four in 4 2-3 innings.

Ichiro Suzuki had two hits for Seattle.

Ahead 2-1 after four, the Rockies blew it open in the fifth. Helton and Atkins started the inning with singles and Hawpe doubled to left to drive in Helton. One out later, Troy Tulowitzki was intentionally walked and Chris Iannetta drove a double to the wall in left-center to clear the bases.

After Hammel grounded out, rookie Dexter Fowler doubled home Iannetta to make it 7-1.

The Mariners took a 1-0 lead on Jose Lopez's sacrifice fly in the first inning. Tulowitzki tied it with a sacrifice fly in the second, and the Rockies took a 2-1 lead in the third when Helton singled to drive in Barmes.

Notes: The game was delayed by rain for 55 minutes with one out in the top of the sixth. The Denver area was also under a tornado warning during the rain delay. ... Rockies RHP Taylor Buchholz will have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow next Wednesday or Thursday, manager Jim Tracy said. Buchholz sprained the ligament while warming up in the bullpen before his first spring training appearance on Feb. 26 against the Chicago White Sox and has been on the disabled list all season. ... Mariners C Kenji Johjima (broken big toe on his left foot) will join the team in San Diego on Monday.

[Associated Press]

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