Playing Helps Rockies Cope

The best salve for the Colorado Rockies was playing baseball.

Playing for the first time since 15 people died in the shootings at Columbine High School in suburban Denver, the Rockies had seven consecutive hits Thursday while scoring five runs in the first inning of an 8-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants at San Francisco.

“I think there was some pent-up energy there, we hadn’t played in a while,” said Dante Bichette, whose two-run home run highlighted the first inning. “I think a lot of us are still numb, still a little bit in shock. We’ll play hard, but our thoughts are definitely with the victims.”

The Rockies, who postponed home games against the Montreal Expos on Tuesday and Wednesday, had “CHS” patches on their right sleeves in memory of the victims.

“It was huge to play again. I think you could tell by the first inning, guys were getting up there and hacking,” Darryl Hamilton said. “The last few days have been extremely tough.”

Neifi Perez began the first-inning outburst with a double against Kirk Rueter (1-1). After Larry Walker’s single scored Rueter, Bichette hit his second homer of the season down the left-field line.

Vinny Castilla, Todd Helton, Mike Lansing and Kirt Manwaring all followed with singles, chasing Rueter.

Brian Bohanon (3-0) gave up three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings for the Rockies.

New York 4, Cincinnati 1--Todd Pratt, filling in at catcher while Mike Piazza is on the disabled list, homered for the second consecutive game to lead the Mets at Cincinnati.

Pratt has driven in nine runs in the 11 games since Piazza suffered a knee injury. He has three homers, one more than his 1998 total, and is batting .318 (14 for 44) after hitting .275 with 18 runs batted in last year.

Houston at Chicago, ppd.--Officials waited 2 hours, 10 minutes past the scheduled start time before calling the game between the Astros and Cubs. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader Aug. 6.