Fowler, Rockies rally late, beat Dodgers in 13

DENVER – Dexter Fowler made the most of another chance.

Fowler atoned for a crucial mistake by hitting an RBI single with two outs in the 13th inning Saturday that gave the Colorado Rockies a 7-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Fowler misplayed a line drive by Trent Oeltjen into an inside-the-park homer in the 12th that gave Los Angeles a 6-4 lead.

But after Colorado tied it again, Mark Ellis hit a two-out double in the 13th and Fowler lined a single inside third base off Blake Hawksworth (2-4).

"I figured he probably wasn't going to go in, so I was looking for the ball out, away," Fowler said. "That's what he gave me."

After his botched play in the 12th, Fowler led off the bottom half with a walk. After getting to third when Troy Tulowitzki singled to right, Fowler scored when Todd Helton doubled on the 15th pitch from closer Javy Guerra. Helton, who earlier homered on his 38th birthday, helped set up a tying grounder by pinch-hitter Eliezer Alfonzo.

"I can't tell you I've seen a better at-bat than Todd Helton took," manager Jim Tracy said. "Obviously, it's the at-bat of the season. It's not surprising that it's that guy."

Helton fouled off eight two-strike pitches from Guerra before he lined a double to right field. Helton, who said he was trying repeatedly to hit a home run, said the key to the at-bat was "basically finally getting a strike to hit. I chased a lot of balls out of the zone, fouled them off. (I was) able to get something down a little bit and put the bat head on it..."

As for maintaining his concentration and focus during that long confrontation, Helton said, "I guess you focus on the process instead of what could happen, just focus on taking the right swing and getting the right pitch."

Aaron Miles opened the Dodgers 12th with his second home run in 349 at-bats. He connected off Matt Reynolds after four previous Rockies relievers had combined to limit the Dodgers to one hit in five scoreless innings.

Oeltjen came up with two outs and hit a sinking liner that got past Fowler. The homer was the second for Oeltjen, who beat shortstop Troy Tulowitzki's relay throw with a headfirst slide across home plate. It was the Dodgers' first inside-the-park homer since May 6, 2008, when Blake DeWitt hit one against the New York Mets, but Fowler was able to gain redemption with his game-winning hit.

"You run for a ball, go to catch the ball," Fowler said, "and I didn't even have to dive for it and it cuts on you. Hey, you're like, 'Oh man, what do you do?' Whatever happened, happened. That's in the past and you just got to move on from there."

J.C. Romero (1-0) pitched the 13th for the Rockies, who won the 5-hour, 7-minute marathon to improve to 2-6 in extra-inning games. For Guerra, it was his first career blown save after converting his first 10 opportunities, a stumble due in large part to Helton.

"I think it was his best against mine," Guerra said. "Today was his day and he got me."

After Helton's hit, the Rockies tied the game with one out when Alfonzo grounded to third baseman Miles, and Tulowitzki scored.

"I wasn't set up (to throw home)," Miles said. "It would've been a sidearm throw, and with Tulowitzki running right away I don't think I would have gotten him. We were playing for the tie there anyway."

The Rockies loaded the bases in the 11th with one out but failed to score.

Eric Young Jr. stole a career-high three bases for Colorado, scored twice and drove in a run. The Rockies survived a shaky start from Esmil Rogers, who gave up a career-high 12 hits in six innings.

Dodgers starter Ted Lilly gave up three hits and three runs in 4 2-3 innings. He was forced to leave because of stiffness in the right side of his neck.

Young walked in the first, stole two bases and scored on Carlos Gonzalez's groundout. Helton led off the second with his 14th home run.

Young walked in the third, stole second with two out, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Gonzalez.

The Rockies made it 4-all in the seventh when Chris Iannetta led off with a double against Josh Lindblom and later scored on Young's single. Young was later picked off and caught stealing in a rundown that required six throws. Tracy removed Young from the game after that play because of calf tightness.

NOTES: Alex White will start Tuesday and make his Rockies debut against the Astros, and struggling Jason Hammel will move to the bullpen. Aaron Cook, who had been scheduled to start Tuesday, will instead start Wednesday. White was one of four players acquired from the Indians in the trade-deadline deal for Ubaldo Jimenez. ... Helton homered for the fifth time on his birthday, having also done it in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004. ...Dodgers CF Matt Kemp extended his hitting streak to 10 games. ... Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen (cardiac arrhythmia) is scheduled make his first rehab appearance Sunday for high Class A Rancho Cucamonga. The Dodgers expect him to return to their bullpen Friday. ...Rockies INF Ty Wigginton is 2-for-22 after going hitless in three at-bats. ... Dodgers RF Andre Ethier, who had an ingrown toe nail removed and didn't play Friday, pinch-hit in the seventh, struck out and stayed in the game. ... Kevin Millwood, who has allowed five home runs in 13 innings in his first two starts for the Rockies, start against the Dodgers for the first time since May 8, 2002, while with the Braves. Chad Billingsley, who has a 7.88 ERA in seven games at Coors Field, will start for the Dodgers.