DENVER (AP) — Jason Hammel pitched 7 1-3 crisp innings and Clint Barmes had a two-run double, lifting the Colorado Rockies to a 5-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night.
Hammel's strained groin appears to be fully mended as he turned in another solid start. He's 3-1 since returning from the disabled list on May 15.
The right-handed Hammel (3-3) scattered six hits and struck out three in his longest outing of the season. He was lifted in the eighth after issuing a one-out walk to Michael Bourn and giving up a single to Jeff Keppinger.
Joe Beimel came in to face Lance Berkman, who hit into an inning-ending double play.
Matt Daley started the ninth in a nonsave situation but got into trouble after getting the first two outs, giving up three straight singles.
Manuel Corpas was summoned into the game and struck out pinch-hitter Jason Michaels to pick up his seventh save in nine chances.
Houston's Wandy Rodriguez (3-8) pitched seven effective innings in his bid to win consecutive games for the first time this season. The lefty allowed three runs and nine hits before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth.
Miguel Olivo added an RBI triple in the eighth and Todd Helton followed with a run-scoring sacrifice fly, just his 11th RBI of the season as the longtime Rockies first baseman has fallen into such a slump that he hit in the sixth spot in the order for a second straight game.
Helton hasn't batted that low since Sept. 1, 1999, against the Pittsburgh.
The Astros had trouble generating any sort of offense against the Rockies, only one runner even getting as far as third base until Geoff Blum's run-scoring single in the ninth.
That was partly due to the fact that Houston hit into three double plays in the game, including one in the second after the Astros started off the inning with two straight singles.
Pedro Feliz of the Astros had three base hits, including one that left fielder Ryan Spilborghs lost in the lights.
The Rockies scored twice in the second when Barmes hit a two-run double to left, bringing in Olivo and Melvin Mora. They also scored a run in the third as Brad Hawpe's groundout allowed Spilborghs to race home from third.
NOTES: Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa will throw breaking pitches with no protective tape on his injured left middle finger in a bullpen session Tuesday. ... Colorado RHP Huston Street (right shoulder inflammation) will pitch in consecutive games later this week and then return to Denver on Saturday to be re-evaluated. ... Astros RHP Bud Norris (bursitis, biceps tendinitis) threw a three-inning simulated game Monday. He will go through a throwing program for Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday. ... The Astros selected CF Delino DeShields Jr. with the eighth pick in the draft. The Rockies took Clemson OF Kyle Parker at No. 26. ... The Astros started a 10-game, three-city road trip.
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