Philadelphia ? Even outside of Coors Field, Garrett Atkins found out the ball travels far when it’s hit well.

Atkins’ tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning helped the Colorado Rockies beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-3, on Thursday.

Aaron Cook pitched seven strong innings, and Brad Hawpe went 3-for-5 with a solo homer for Colorado, which improved to 7-3 on the road.

Matt Holliday started the eighth inning with a single off Ryan Franklin (1-2). Atkins then hit a 1-2 pitch off the brick batter’s eye beyond the center-field wall for his third homer, giving Colorado a 5-3 lead. Atkins also had an RBI single in the ninth.

“I had two strikes, so I was looking for something to hit. He left it out over the middle of the plate, and I was able to hit it good,” Atkins said of his 430-foot drive.

Pat Burrell had a two-run single for the Phillies, who fell to 5-10 at home.

“They outplayed us,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “I’ve been saying that all year. It’s getting old.”

Cook (2-3) allowed three runs – two earned – and six hits. Ray King and Jose Mesa combined for a scoreless eighth, and Brian Fuentes finished for his fourth save, extending his franchise record to 22 straight.

“I get more confident and stronger as the game goes on,” Cook said. “I used my changeup quite a bit. They’re one of the most aggressive teams we face.”

The road-warrior Rockies – they were 395-628 away from home before this season – split the four-game series against Philadelphia. Another small crowd of 21,506 turned out at three-year-old Citizens Bank Park, where attendance has steadily declined.

Once the Phillies fell behind, some fans started chanting: “Let’s Go Flyers.” The Flyers trail Buffalo 2-1 in an NHL first-round playoff series. But at least they’ve reached the postseason 11 consecutive years. The Phillies haven’t been to the playoffs since losing the World Series in 1993.

Phillies starter Jon Lieber allowed three runs and nine hits in seven innings and failed to win his first game. He’s 0-4 with a 7.04 earned-run average.

Lieber finished 17-13 in his first season in Philadelphia, and was one of the league’s best pitchers over the final month when he was 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA.

“I can only get better,” Lieber said.

Philadelphia’s bullpen had allowed just three earned runs in its previous 29 innings, before Franklin gave up Atkins’ homer.

“I tried to quick-pitch him,” Franklin said. “I thought it was the right thing to do. All the times I’ve done it, I think I gave up one hit. But he did a good job getting ready to hit the ball.”

Cardinals 6, Nationals 2

St. Louis – Sidney Ponson won his third straight start, and Jim Edmonds gave him a quick cushion with a three-run homer in the first inning of St. Louis’ victory.

Scott Spiezio added a two-run double in the seventh off Gary Majewski after the lead had been shaved to one for the Cardinals, who have won seven of eight. Spiezio, who made his third straight start at third base in place of ailing Scott Rolen, also tripled in the first and is 5-for-11 with a homer and four RBIs as the fill-in. The Cardinals are 10-3 at new Busch Stadium, all of the games sellouts.

A strong major-league debut was made by starter Mike O’Connor, who allowed three unearned runs and three hits in five innings.