Hawpe’s double lifts the Rockies

All-Star Brad Hawpe hit a game-ending double to give the Colorado Rockies an 8-7 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday and a split of the four-game series.

“What a way for Brad Hawpe to leave here and head for St. Louis,” Rockies Manager Jim Tracy said. “That’s a very nice send-off for a class human being.”

Seth Smith set up Hawpe’s clutch hit with a one-out single in the ninth inning against Luis Valdez (0-1), who was making his major league debut.

After Garrett Atkins flied out, Hawpe lined an 86-mph changeup into the gap in right-center to score Smith from first.

“He threw me a couple of fastballs early on, and in the back of my mind I wanted to be ready for an off-speed pitch,” said Hawpe, who leads the Rockies in hitting (.320) and runs batted in (59).

Hawpe, Smith and Troy Tulowitzki homered for Colorado.