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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Rockies steal a victory

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

San Diego second baseman David Eckstein crosses in front of Colorado's Dexter Fowler, who stole second.

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI | Associated Press

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DENVER — Dexter Fowler doesn't have to wait for a sign to steal a base.

His light is permanently green.

Taking advantage of good jumps and Chris Young's methodical delivery, Fowler tied a modern-day rookie mark with five stolen bases as the Colorado Rockies ran their way to a 12-7 victory over the San Diego Padres last night.

Fowler gave the Padres fits all night, becoming the first rookie to steal that many bases since Damian Jackson did it for San Diego on June 28, 1999.

Although he's already encouraged to run, Fowler, who has nine steals for the season, received even more prodding before the game.

"I told him, 'Run until they stop you,' " teammate Ryan Spilborghs said. "He did. I don't think they ever stopped him. I think he's still running if we go look for him right now."

The Rockies stole eight bases, the second-most in franchise history. It was two shy of the team mark set June 30, 1996.

All the stolen bases were on the battery of Young and Nick Hundley.

Fowler was on base four times for the Rockies, lining two singles and drawing two walks. He stole second three times and third twice.

His five thefts for the game tied Willy Taveras for second-most in Rockies history. The team record is six by Eric Young on the same day the team mark was set.

Then a roadblock came up. Slow-moving pitcher Glendon Rusch singled just ahead of Fowler's walk in the fifth.

GIANTS 5, DODGERS 4:

With Barry Bonds watching from a front-row seat, host San Francisco scratched out a pair of eighth-inning runs to rally past Los Angeles. Rich Aurilia drove in the tying run on a dribbler up the first-base line and Edgar Renteria put the Giants ahead when he scored on pinch-hitter Bengie Molina's slow groundout to third.

ASTROS 4, REDS 1:

Lance Berkman hit his 20th homer at Great American Ball Park, the most by any visiting player, and Hunter Pence hit a tiebreaking double in the ninth inning, leading Houston over Cincinnati. Pence's two-run double off Francisco Cordero (0-1) broke a 1-all tie. Berkman hit a solo homer in the sixth off Johnny Cueto.

PHILLIES 13, NATIONALS 11:

Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez each hit a grand slam, rallying host Philadelphia over Washington for its fourth straight win. Howard's shot to center in the fifth inning tied the score at 6. Ibanez capped a six-run surge in the eight with a two-out drive to right off Joel Hanrahan (0-1).

CARDINALS 3, BRAVES 2:

Rick Ankiel drove in two runs for visiting St. Louis to back another strong outing by Joel Pineiro, who equaled the best start of his career. Pineiro (4-0) went 6 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and a pair of runs while walking none. He also won his first four decisions for Seattle in 2001.

BREWERS 10, PIRATES 5:

Rickie Weeks broke open a tie game in the eighth inning with a run-scoring fielder's choice and had a career-high four RBIs, lifting host Milwaukee over Pittsburgh. Weeks had a three-run homer, and Ryan Braun and Mike Cameron also connected for Milwaukee.

DIAMONDBACKS 7, CUBS 2:

Dan Haren threw a three-hitter and broke open the game with a two-run double in the fourth, and host Arizona beat Chicago. Haren (2-3) tossed his seventh complete game, his second with Arizona. Haren struck out 10 and didn't walk a batter.

METS 7, MARLINS 1:

Omir Santos hit the first grand slam in Citi Field history for his first career RBIs, and host New York beat Florida to extend the Marlins' losing streak to seven. Santos' first-inning drive off Anibal Sanchez (1-2) went about four rows into the left-field seats.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ROYALS 7, BLUE JAYS 1:

Brian Bannister gave up one hit over seven innings and Jose Guillen hit two homers to lead host Kansas City over Toronto. Bannister (2-0) has allowed one run and five hits in 13 innings in winning his two starts since being recalled April 22 from Triple-A Omaha. Guillen homered in the first with Willie Bloomquist aboard, and led off the fifth with his second of the season.

RED SOX 3, INDIANS 1:

Jason Bay hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning off Cleveland's Kerry Wood to give visiting Boston its 11th straight win. Bay fell behind 0-1 before pulling a 99-mph fastball from Wood (0-1) into the left-field seats as Boston extended its longest winning streak since 2006.

TIGERS 4, YANKEES 2:

Justin Verlander had a season-high nine strikeouts and Magglio Ordonez hit a two-run homer off CC Sabathia (1-2) to lead host Detroit over New York. Verlander (1-2) pitched seven-plus scoreless innings, allowing seven hits and no walks.

RANGERS 6, ORIOLES 4:

Michael Young homered, David Murphy broke a tie with a two-run single in the sixth inning and visiting Texas beat Baltimore. Texas' Matt Harrison (1-2) gave up four runs in the first two innings, then retired 16 straight batters before Robert Andino hit a two-out single in the seventh.

RAYS 7, TWINS 1:

Jeff Niemann kept the Twins guessing into the sixth inning and Carlos Pena hit his majors-leading ninth home run, lifting visiting Tampa Bay to victory. Niemann (2-2) gave up just three hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings.