Rockies Rout Diamondbacks

Consecutive bunt singles by Larry Walker and Jeff Cirillo highlighted a five-run first inning Monday night as the Colorado Rockies pounded Omar Daal and the Arizona Diamondbacks, 9-1, at Phoenix.

The Rockies, who scored 14 runs without a home run in Sunday night’s 14-13 marathon victory over St. Louis, didn’t get a home run Monday, either. But they didn’t need one to win for the fifth time in six games.

Todd Helton knocked in three runs with two singles, and six other Rockies had two hits apiece, including winning pitcher Masato Yoshii. Terry Shumpert had a triple and double with two runs batted in.

Yoshii gave up one run and seven hits in seven innings. He struck out two and walked two.

Daal, who had strong performances but no decisions in his first two outings, gave up eight runs--seven earned--and 13 hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out two, walked two intentionally and hit Jeff Cirillo to trigger a bench-clearing incident in the second inning.

Mike Lansing started the first-inning outburst with a one-out single, then Walker and Cirillo put down perfect bunts in front of ex-Rocky Lenny Harris at third base to load the bases.

Helton followed with a two-run single, then Shumpert’s RBI double put Colorado up, 3-0. A sacrifice fly by Neifi Perez made the score 4-0. Daal intentionally walked Scott Servais to get to Yoshii, whose RBI single put the Rockies ahead, 5-0.

With two out in the second, Daal hit Cirillo between the shoulders with a pitch. An angry Cirillo took a couple of steps toward the mound, then pushed catcher Kelly Stinnett out of the way. Both dugouts and bullpens emptied, but no punches were thrown.

Florida 6, Chicago 5--Mike Lowell and Derrek Lee drove in two runs apiece as the Marlins won at Chicago.

The Marlins scored all of their runs on singles. All but one of their 12 hits were on singles too.

Trailing, 5-4, in the top of the seventh, Alex Gonzalez doubled off the wall and scored on Lowell’s single up the gap. Lee, the next batter up, singled to center, driving in Cliff Floyd for the go-ahead run with two out.

That was it for Kyle Farnsworth (1-2), who was replaced by Mark Guthrie. The Cubs finally got out of the inning when pinch-hitter Mark Smith popped up to first.

Farnsworth, who was dominant against the Atlanta Braves last week, gave up six runs and 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two.

Jesus Sanchez (2-0) gave up five runs--three earned--and six hits in six innings. He struck out nine and walked four.

Antonio Alfonseca pitched the ninth for his fifth save.

Montreal at Philadelphia, ppd., rain--For the second time in three days, the Expos and Phillies were rained out. Both games have been scheduled as a doubleheader Sept. 11.

That had previously been an off day for both teams.