Surging Rockies Sweep the Astros

Aaron Cook pitched into the ninth inning, Todd Helton hit a three-run home run and the Colorado Rockies beat the Houston Astros, 5-3, Sunday to complete a three-game sweep at Denver.

Cook (3-3) gave up two runs and six hits. He walked two and struck out two, improving to 2-0 in three starts against the Astros in his career.

“We are a competitive group, and after seeing what Byung-Hyun Kim did on Friday and what Jason Jennings did last night,” Cook said, “I wanted to keep it rolling and keep the competitive spirit alive.”

Kim struck out nine in seven innings and kept the Rockies in position to win Friday with a ninth-inning rally. Jennings tossed the second shutout of his career Saturday.

It was Colorado’s first series sweep at home this season. The Rockies (19-13) are six games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 14, 2000.

Atlanta 13, New York 3 -- John Smoltz threw six strong innings on three days’ rest and Jeff Francoeur hit a three-run homer to help the Braves avoid a sweep by defeating Jose Lima and the Mets at New York.

It was a much-needed victory for Atlanta, which dropped nine games out of first place after Saturday’s loss to the Mets. It was the first time since Aug. 11, 1993, that the winners of 14 consecutive division titles had been that far back in their division.

San Diego 6, Chicago 3 -- Khalil Greene was four for four to tie his career high and drove in four runs at San Diego to help the Padres win their eighth game in a row.

San Diego climbed above .500 (16-15) for the first time since winning on opening day.

The Cubs have lost six straight and nine of 11. They’ve been outscored, 54-9, in their last nine games. Chicago did manage to score multiple runs in an inning for the first time in 81 innings.

Washington 5, Pittsburgh 4 -- Rookie Mike O’Connor won for the second time in three starts since joining the Nationals’ rotation, and Jose Guillen hit a two-run homer at Washington.

After the game, the Nationals learned that starter John Patterson is still bothered by nagging pain in his right forearm.

“He’s not able to do his rehab,” Manager Frank Robinson said. “It’s time to give it an extended period of rest to see if it does clear up, because it certainly hasn’t cleared up the way we’ve gone about it so far.”

St. Louis 9, Florida 1 -- The Cardinals overcame right-hander Sidney Ponson’s departure at Miami after three innings because of elbow discomfort.

Ponson (3-0) was pulled for a pinch-hitter after throwing 42 pitches.

The Marlins were swept for the third consecutive home series.

Cincinnati 9, Arizona 8 -- Adam Dunn homered at Phoenix and matched his career high with five runs batted in, stopping the Diamondbacks’ seven-game winning streak.