Rockies outslug Cubs at Coors

Squads combine to swat eight home runs, but Colorado prevails, 9-7

? The Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs played a classic Coors Field game.

Matt Holliday and Dustan Mohr hit two-run homers, leading the Rockies over the Cubs, 9-7, on Sunday in a game that featured eight home runs.

“We had a little nostalgia game, one that wasn’t for the weak of heart,” Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. “Like old times, with a lot of home runs.”

Each team hit four homers – but the Cubs didn’t enjoy theirs nearly as much.

Garrett Atkins had three hits, including a solo homer, for the Rockies. Pinch-hitter Jorge Piedra added a three-run drive in the eighth as Colorado took two of three in the series.

Sunny Kim (2-2) threw two scoreless innings to earn his first victory for Colorado.

Greg Maddux (10-10) allowed six runs and eight hits – including three homers – in six innings and failed to get his 316th win. He lost for the first time in six career decisions at Coors Field.

“They got me big time,” said Maddux, who had won his previous two starts. “You’ve got to keep the ball down here or you pay for it – and I did.”

Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez hit back-to-back homers in the ninth for Chicago. Neifi Perez and Jeromy Burnitz added two-run shots off Colorado closer Brian Fuentes.

Astros 8, Brewers 3

Houston – Andy Pettitte won for the eighth time in his last 10 decisions, leading Houston. Pettitte (11-9) allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings, improving to 8-2 in his last 12 starts.

Victor Santos (4-12) gave up seven runs and nine hits in 31â3 innings.

Marlins 7, Dodgers 1

Miami – Jason Vargas (4-1) pitched a six-hitter for his first major-league complete game as Florida won for the fourth time in five games. Derek Lowe (8-12) allowed six runs and seven hits in 32â3 innings and is 0-2 in three starts since beating Pittsburgh on Aug. 5.

Nationals 7, Mets 4

New York – Ryan Church doubled and singled in a six-run first, and Cristian Guzman doubled twice and drove in two runs for the Nationals, who avoided a three-game sweep. Mike Jacobs hit a three-run homer in his first major-league at-bat, becoming the fourth Mets player to accomplish the feat.

Braves 6, Padres 2

Atlanta – The Braves scored five runs in the eighth inning, helped by two San Diego errors. The Padres took a 2-1 lead on pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney’s two-run single off John Smoltz in the seventh inning, but Akinori Otsuka (1-5) and the San Diego bullpen, hurt by the errors, couldn’t hold the lead in the eighth.

Reds 13, Diamondbacks 6

Cincinnati – Wily Mo Pena hit a pair of three-run homers to set a career high with six RBIs. Pena and Edwin Encarnacion hit three-run homers off Brad Halsey (8-10) in a seven-run fourth, and Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez and Sean Casey also homered for Cincinnati.

Phillies 4, Pirates 3

Philadelphia – Bobby Abreu hit a tiebreaking double off Rick White (3-6) in the seventh that scored Jason Michaels, who made a crashing, sweeping slide around catcher Ryan Doumit. Ryan Madson (6-4) struck out two and allowed no hits in 12â3 scoreless innings.

Giants 4, Cardinals 2

St. Louis – Jason Schmidt (10-6) allowed four hits in seven shutout innings to win his third straight decision, and San Francisco capitalized on four errors. Jeff Suppan (12-9) allowed four runs – one earned – and seven hits in six innings.