Rockies Get in the Swing, 7-2

DENVER — The Colorado Rockies are out of the playoff race, but they still have their big bats and the thin air of Coors Field.

Vinny Castilla hit his 200th career home run and Neifi Perez tripled twice and drove in a run as Colorado defeated the New York Mets, 7-2, Tuesday night.

“We came out and swung the bats exceptionally well,” Colorado Manager Jim Leyland said. “The Mets are a contending team and you want to play to preserve the integrity of the game.”

The Mets, who dropped to two games behind Atlanta in the NL East, had won nine of their last 11. New York remained 2 1/2 games ahead of Cincinnati in the wild-card race.

“Early in the game we definitely started looking at the scoreboard,” New York pitcher Al Leiter said. “When we saw the Cubs pull it out and beat Cincinnati it made today’s loss that much more bearable.”

Castilla’s two-run homer was his 30th of the year, the fifth consecutive year he has hit at least 30.

Edgard Clemente had a home run for the Rockies, who won for the third time in their last five games.

Jamey Wright (3-2) gave up one run and five hits in seven innings to win his second consecutive start. He relied on his curveball, which he struggled with when he faced the Mets on Sept. 3 in New York.

“I found the right release point in the bullpen before the game, felt I could throw it any time in the count and that was the difference today,” he said.

Octavio Dotel (7-2), who hadn’t lost in 12 starts since his major league debut June 26 against Atlanta, gave up six runs and seven hits in three innings and took the loss.

“Dotel didn’t have his real good fastball and for two innings wasn’t popping it when he threw it,” New York Manager Bobby Valentine said.