Cook pitches Rockies past Nats

Baseball Betting Lines

07/21/2007 - Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aaron Cook tossed seven scoreless innings, and Todd Helton drove in two runs as the Colorado Rockies beat the Washington Nationals, 3-1, in the second of four games at RFK Stadium.

Cook (6-6) had a strong outing, yielding just four hits, walking three and fanning eight to earn his first win in three starts.

Willy Taveras had two hits and scored a pair of runs for Colorado, which dropped the opener in the series but has won four of its last five games overall. Ryan Spilborghs also added a pair of hits.

Billy Traber (2-1) allowed two runs -- one earned -- on three hits over four innings in his first start of the season in a replacement role for the Nationals.

The left-hander, a former first-round pick of the New York Mets, had made 23 appearances in relief this season, but was filling in for journeyman starter Jason Simontacchi, who was placed on the disabled list before the game with right elbow tendinitis.

Ryan Zimmerman knocked in the lone run for Washington, which had a modest two- game winning streak halted.

The Rockies put up a two-spot in the third to grab the lead. Cook started things with a walk, Taveras bunted for a hit, and a sacrifice bunt by Kaz Matsui moved the runners. Cook scored on a groundout by Matt Holliday, and Taveras crossed the plate on a sac fly by Helton to make it 2-0.

Colorado tacked on another run in the seventh when Taveras bunted again for a hit, Matsui and Holliday both walked and Helton followed with another sac fly.

Saul Rivera then replaced Ray King, and with two outs, retired Garrett Atkins on a ground ball to prevent further damage.

The Nats broke up the shutout bid in the eighth against reliever Jorge Julio. Felipe Lopez led off with a single to right, and Ronnie Belliard followed by poking the ball through the right side. Zimmerman's base hit then scored Lopez, cutting it to 3-1, before pinch-hitter Dmitri Young grounded out to first. Austin Kearns then brought a close to the inning when he popped out to Matsui, who easily doubled off Zimmerman at second.

Manny Corpas tossed a perfect ninth to earn his fourth save.

Game Notes

Young was not in the starting lineup for Washington due to a bruised left heel...Simontacchi's move to the DL is retroactive to July 16...Washington is expected to recall right-hander Chris Booker from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday...Attendance was 27,581.

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