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GAME UPDATE
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DENVER (AP) -- Todd Helton was happy to return home.
Helton, frustrated on a recent road trip, went 4-for-4 with two
homers and four RBIs in his first game back at Coors Field as the
Colorado Rockies spoiled Kent Bottenfield's Phillies debut Friday
night with a 8-1 win.
|  | | Todd Helton went 4-for-4 and smashed this solo shot in the first inning Friday off Kent Bottenfield, who was rocked in his Phillies' debut. |
"I was swinging too hard when I got good pitches on the road,"
said Helton, who was 8-for-24 with two homers on the six-game trip.
"It was a matter of being comfortable and not doing too much and
tonight I just tried to put the bat on the ball."
Bottenfield (0-1), acquired last Sunday from Anaheim for Ron
Gant, allowed five runs and 10 hits in six innings in his 100th
career start and was disappointed with his fielding than his
pitching performance.
"I'm satisfied with my outing, but not my mental mistakes,"
said Bottenfield, whose error led to a run and mishandling of two
other plays allowed runners to advance. "If I'm not brain dead on
those plays, they score three less runs."
Helton hit a solo homer in the first and a two-run shot in the
eighth to raise his NL-leading average to .376. Jeff Cirillo
homered and scored twice as the Rockies won for only the seventh
time in their last 29 games.
"When Helton is hitting .376, it is a tough number to keep up
with," Colorado manager Buddy Bell said. "He may have been
swinging too hard at times, trying to get things done and carry the
team on his shoulders."
Julian Tavarez (7-2) allowed one run and four hits in six
innings. He has allowed two runs and eight hits in 11 1/3 innings
in two starts since appearing in 250 consecutive relief
appearances.
The Phillies lost their fourth in a row.
"We scored one run, period," Philadelphia manager Terry
Francona said. "That's not going to do it most of the time -- in
any park."
Cirillo and Helton hit back-to-back homers in the first inning
gave the Rockies a 2-0 lead. Cirillo hit is 11th homer of the year
into the Rockies bullpen in right and Helton followed with his
26th.
"I didn't think either of them were going out," Helton said.
"I managed to get the bat through it and had good backspin on both
of them, but I didn't hit them that well."
Doug Glanville's sacrifice fly brought the Phillies within one
in the third inning. Perez doubled into the right-field corner and
moved to third of Bottenfield's's swinging bunt.
But the Rockies extended their lead to 5-1 in the fifth inning.
Neifi Perez reached on a bunt single, Cirillo singled to center and
Helton hit an RBI single under the glove of first baseman Pat
Burrell.
Cirillo scored when Bottenfield failed to get Helton and second
and Mayne drove in Helton with a bloop single to right.
Colorado added an unearned run in the seventh inning. Steve Frye
was hit by reliever Mark Holzemer, moved to third when catcher Mike
Lieberthal threw into right field on a pickoff attempt and scored
on Mayne's suicide squeeze bunt.
Game notes
The Phillies sent SS Desi Relaford in a waiver deal to San
Diego for a player to be named and activated catcher Mike Liberthal
from the 15-day DL. ... Philadelphia 2B Mickey Morandini committed
only his sixth error in 375 chances this year and his third in his
past 64 games. ... Bobby Abreu is in an 4-for-28 skid after an
0-for-3 night for the Phillies. ... Colorado activated LHP Scott
Karl from the 15-day DL. ... Larry Walker was a late scratch with
the flu. ... Colorado had back-to-back homers for the fourth time
this year.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Colorado Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 5
Kansas City 4
Cleveland 11
Anaheim 10
Minnesota 3
Detroit 1
NY Yankees 13
Seattle 6
Toronto 10
Texas 8
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Philadelphia 1
NY Mets 6
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Chicago Cubs 9
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