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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DENVER (AP) – With his first Gold Glove safely secured in his
trophy case, Neifi Perez has vowed to be a better hitter as well.
|  | | Colorado's Neifi Perez went 4-for-5, including a triple, in the Rockies' romp. |
The Colorado Rockies shortstop continued to shows signs of
meeting that goal, going 4-for-5 and matching his career high with
four RBIs as the Rockies ended a three-game losing streak with a
12-4 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night.
"Every year I want to get better," said Perez, who singled
twice, doubled and triple, missed out on the cycle when he hit a
long flyout in his final at-bat.
"Every day I go out to do my best and try and make the team
win," Perez said.
"Is there a better shortstop? I don't know," said Colorado
manager Buddy Bell. "He brings energy every night and I know I
wouldn't trade him for anyone else."
Perez raise his batting average to .395. He is 21-for-59 since
coming off the disabled list on April 24.
"I feel like I never was on the DL," said Perez, who missed 13
games after tearing a ligament in his left thumb. "I was taking a
lot of batting practice and a lot of ground balls, so I never got
out of good shape."
Colorado starter Pedro Astacio (4-2) allowed four runs and eight
hits in 6 1-3 innings to win for the first time in three starts.
Desi Relaford homered twice, the first multihomer game of his
career, and Edgardo Alfonzo added a solo shot for the Mets, who had
won five of seven.
Kevin Appier (2-3) lasted two batters into the second inning,
his shortest outing since going two-thirds of an inning on May 13,
1996. After allowing five runs, he has given up 14 earned runs in
18 2-3 innings and remained winless in four road starts.
"Kevin couldn't get the low strike and brought it up," New
York manager Bobby Valentine said. "When he brought it up they hit
it."
The Rockies batted around in the first inning, scoring four
runs. Todd Helton's two-run double to the wall in right was
followed by RBI-doubles by Greg Norton and Todd Hollandsworth.
Colorado chased Appier in the second after Juan Pierre singled
to left to open the inning and Perez tripled into the right-field
corner. Tom Martin came on and got Larry Walker to pop out and
Norton to ground into a double play.
"My biggest problem was with my off speed stuff," Appier said.
"It seemed like it was breaking pretty good low, but I couldn't
get many calls and I couldn't get them to chase that pitch."
Relaford homered to right on a 3-2 pitch leading off the third
to cut the lead to 5-1.
Colorado answered with a four-run third against Martin that
included a one-single to right by Astacio. Pierre drove in a run
with a fielder's choice, Perez hit a two-run double to left and
Walker's bloop double scored Perez to make it 9-1.
Relaford hit his second homer with one out in the fifth. Perez
drove in his fourth run of the game with a two-out single in the
fifth.
"He (Relaford) got me twice," Astacio said. "I left a
changeup in the middle of the plate and hung a curveball."
Alfonzo's solo homer and Alex Escobar's RBI-infield single, his
first major league hit, pulled the Mets to 10-4 in the sixth.
Game notes
The Mets placed CF Jay Payton on the 15-day DL with a
strained right hamstring. His roster spot was filled with Escobar,
a 22-year-old outfielder from Triple-A Norfolk. ... The last time
Relaford had a two, home run game was against the Rockies Class
Double A Visalia team. ... Appier has four career outings of an
inning or less. ... The Rockies placed LHP Brian Bohanon on the
15-day DL after X-rays revealed chips and spurs in his left elbow.
Colorado recalled RHP Robert Averette from Triple-A Colorado
Springs. ... Colorado prospect RHP Tsan Chin Hui is scheduled for
reconstructive elbow surgery on his elbow on May 23 in Denver. ...
Colorado reached 200 runs in its first 32 games. Only the 1997 team
(30) reached 200 runs quicker. ... Every member of Colorado's
starting lineup had at least one hit including Astacio in the
18-hit attack.
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RECAPS
Boston 12
Seattle 4
Cleveland 8
Kansas City 4
Detroit 5
Texas 4
Minnesota 2
NY Yankees 0
Oakland 8
Toronto 5
Tampa Bay 4
Baltimore 3
Chi. White Sox 2
Anaheim 0
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Houston 2
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Chicago Cubs 1
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Colorado 12
NY Mets 4
Arizona 4
Cincinnati 3
San Diego 7
Atlanta 1
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Los Angeles 6
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Montreal 1
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