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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- For one series, at least, the Colorado Rockies
had no problem winning on the road. And just like that, they've got
a slight lead in the NL West.
Jeffrey Hammonds hit a two-run homer in the eighth and Brian Bohanon pitched eight strong innings as the Rockies beat the San
Diego Padres 3-1 Monday night to take three of four games.
|  | | Brian Bohanon allowed only one run and four hits in eight innings. |
Colorado moved back into first place in the NL West, four
percentage points ahead of Arizona. The Rockies also led the
Diamondbacks by percentage points on June 18, then lost three of
four and fell two games back.
"It's a step in the right direction," said Hammonds, who was
aware of Colorado's previous road struggles before being acquired
in the offseason from Cincinnati in the Dante Bichette deal. "It's
going to be a battle. You don't like to lose, whether it's home or
away. You've got to figure out a way. Fortunately, we did that
during this series."
Once again, the Rockies took advantage of every opportunity they
got.
Hammonds broke a 1-1 tie when he drove a 1-2 pitch from reliever
Steve Montgomery (0-2) into the first row of seats in left field,
his 14th homer of the season. Todd Helton was aboard on a one-out
walk, his at-bat extended when third baseman Phil Nevin dropped a
foul pop for an error.
"Everytime we got a lead late, we held on," said Hammonds, who
homered on a slider.
Bohanon, meanwhile, went from his shortest outing of the season,
1 1/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants last Wednesday, to
his longest. He allowed one run and four hits, struck out seven and
walked two, improving to 2-6 against San Diego. Jose Jimenez
finished for his 15th save in 17 chances.
"I just really struggled the last outing, just really had no
clue where the ball was going," said Bohanon (4-5), who spent time
in the bullpen earlier in the season after struggling. "Tonight I
knew exactly where it was going. I could throw my cutter pretty
much pinpoint wherever I wanted to, sinker, curveball, changeup. I
had everything going tonight."
Padres rookie right-hander Adam Eaton, making his seventh start,
struck out a career-high 10 in six innings but ended up with his
sixth straight no-decision. Although his only decision was a win in
his debut on May 30, he has yet to leave a game with the Padres
trailing.
Eaton, who threw 116 pitches, said the lack of wins "is
frustrating. I threw the ball well but I got the pitch count up a
bit and came out. I felt good. I probably could have kept going,
but my stuff might not have been as good."
Eaton's previous strikeout high was seven on June 17 against
Cincinnati. He matched the Padres' season high, by Sterling
Hitchcock against Atlanta on April 30.
Eaton struck out the side in the first and second innings and
had seven strikeouts by the end of the third.
Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when second baseman Bret
Boone dropped Neifi Perez's bases-loaded grounder for an error as
he ran in to touch the bag, with Hammonds scoring.
San Diego tied it in the bottom half of the inning when Phil
Nevin homered to left with two outs, his 17th.
Game
notes
Helton went 2-for-2 to extend his hitting streak to eight
games. He's hitting 16-for-29 (.552) in that stretch. ... San
Diego's Dusty Allen, who made his major league debut as a
pinch-hitter on Saturday night, made his first start, in left field
in place of Al Martin against Bohanon, a lefty. Allen hit into
double plays in his first two big league at-bats. ... Martin is
hitting .086 against lefties (5-for-58). ... Colorado's Larry
Walker, moved from RF to LF to take some pressure off his healing
right elbow, got the night off. ... On Sunday, Walker batted in the
fifth spot for the first time since Sept. 2 and 4, 1996, at
Pittsburgh. He started in the fifth spot for the Rockies several
times in 1995, and early in his career at Montreal he batted in the
fifth, sixth and even the seventh spot several times.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Colorado Clubhouse
San Diego Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 6
Baltimore 4
Detroit 5
Tampa Bay 4
Chi. White Sox 14
Kansas City 10
Boston 11
Minnesota 8
Texas 8
Oakland 3
Seattle 8
Anaheim 6
Chicago Cubs 3
Pittsburgh 0
Cincinnati 3
Arizona 2
Florida 2
NY Mets 0
Montreal 17
Atlanta 1
Philadelphia 5
Milwaukee 3
Colorado 3
San Diego 1
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