Rocks Snap 'Stros' Win Streak

While the Houston bullpen was going wild, the Colorado Rockies got relief help in the late innings.

Two wild pitches and a ninth-inning sacrifice fly by Henry Blanco scored the go-ahead run as the Rockies avoided a sweep and snapped Houston's four-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory Thursday.

Colorado starter Bobby Jones kept it close for six innings and then Jerry Dipoto (1-2) went two innings for the victory. Former Astros pitcher Dave Veres got his fifth save to keep the Astros from making another comeback.

"It was nice the way we closed it out," Rockies manager Jim Leyland said. "I've said all along that the bullpen was going to be a big part of this team. I've never wavered from that.

"And, the starters are giving us innings. Nobody can handle the bullpen if the starters aren't giving you innings."

Veres pitched a perfect ninth against the top of the Astros lineup. He struck out Craig Biggio, got Bill Spiers to line out and struck out Jeff Bagwell to end the game.

"I've faced those guys before," Veres said. "I think getting ahead of them was really the key today for me. Biggio gets on base there, and who knows what will happen?

"Spiers is one of the best contact hitters in this league and he can make things happen."

Chris Petersen reached on a force play in the ninth, then moved around to third base on a pair of wild pitches by Trever Miller (0-1). Blanco drove in Petersen with a long fly to left field.

The Astros were trailing 2-1 in the third when Bobby Jones walked Derek Bell with two out and Richard Hidalgo followed with his seventh homer of the season, equaling his homer output from last year.

Chris Holt, trying to break his 0-6 start, took that 3-2 lead into the seventh, but he gave up singles to Jeff Reed and pinch-hitter Lenny Harris to start the inning and was replaced by Brian Williams.

"I just got a lot of bad luck," Holt said. "I've just got to go out and change it myself. It's not like nobody's battling. I's just that the monkey's on my back right now.

"I felt good today. My curve ball was working good but I'm just snake bit."

A sacrifice fly by Darryl Hamilton tied it at 3.

Holt sat out last season recovering from shoulder surgery. He hasn't won a game since beating the Rockies 10-4 on Aug. 21, 1997. He allowed seven hits, three runs, one earned and struck out five.

Jones went six innings, allowed four hits and three earned runs. He struck out seven and walked five.

"Actually, in the fist couple of innings, I was fighting," Jones said. "I was getting behind guys and walking them. But as the game went on, I guess after that home run I gave up, I just settled down."

It didn't take the Rockies long to get a 2-0 lead off Holt. Hamilton led off the game with a single and Neifi Perez sacrificed.

Second baseman Biggio's throwing error scored one run and Vinny Castilla's double off the left-field fence made it 2-0.

The Astros got a run the second on Russ Johnson's single.

Notes: Dante Bichette was 0-for-13 in the series before his third-inning single. ... Left fielder Hidalgo threw out Walker at third base in the third inning for his league-leading eighth outfield assist. ... Hidalgo's homer ended Colorado's franchise record-tying string of four homerless games by opponents.

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