Helton, Rockies Stay Hot

Todd Helton doubled twice and drove in three runs as the Colorado Rockies defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, 8-6, Friday night for their sixth consecutive victory. The Rockies and Brewers are playing the only non-interleague series this weekend.

Helton, who hit .512 in May, was two for five, giving him 15 hits in his last 21 at-bats with four doubles, four homers and 12 RBIs.

Helton is leading the majors in hitting at .420.

Jeff Cirillo, traded from Milwaukee to the Rockies last December, singled twice and walked three times in his return to County Stadium.

Winner Rolando Arrojo (3-4) struggled through five innings, giving up six runs and seven hits with three walks. Mike Myers got three out for his first save.

Colorado erased a 3-0 deficit by scoring seven times in the fourth, helped by four walks, an error and a wild pitch.

Jason Bere (3-4) escaped bases-loaded, one-out jams in the first and third innings. He was not so fortunate in the fourth.

The Rockies loaded the bases with two out, and a walk to Cirillo made the score 3-1. Helton greeted reliever Steve Woodard with a two-run, ground-rule double down the left-field line to tie the score at 3.

Shortstop Luis Lopez was charged with an error when he failed to make a throw on Jeffrey Hammonds’ grounder, allowing Cirillo to score from third.

After a walk to Brent Mayne, Brian Hunter followed with a two-run single and Neifi Perez added an RBI single for a 7-3 lead.