The last time Aaron Cook pitched at Minute Maid Park, he was part of history, giving up Biggio’s last three hits to 3,000.
Saturday night, he picked up his second win of the season in a 3-2 Colorado Rockies victory.
Cook (2-1) pitched seven innings and allowed four hits, two runs (one earned), walked one and struck out four to put the Rockies above .500 for the first time since they won the season opener. The Rockies’ starter told ESPN he tried to be effective with his pitches.
"I just tried to use my sinker effectively," Cook said. "After the first inning, I was able to pitch better. I just settled in and had Chris [Iannetta] set up middle and in and I tried to pitch to him."
Brian Fuentes only gave up one hit in a scoreless eighth inning. Manuel Corpas got his fourth save of the season with a perfect ninth. Colorado manager Clint Hurdle told ESPN that he was impressed with the pitching.
"Our guys pitched really, really well," manager Hurdle said. "Aaron's last four innings were great. They got four hits on him and in this park, that's just a dominating effort."
The win gives Colorado four straight and their eighth win in their last eleven games.
The Astros struck first in the first inning. Michael Bourn got on with an error by Clint Barmes and stole second during Kazuo Matsui’s at bat. Matsui singled and advanced Bourn to third. Bourn scored the first run of the game when Miguel Tejada grounded into a double play.
The Rockies tied it in the second. Garrett Atkins led off with a double. After Brad Hawpe and Barmes grounded out to Wandy Rodriguez, Chris Iannetta walked. Cook helped his own cause with an RBI single to tie the game.
The Astros got their last lead of the game in the third. J.R. Towles led off with a home run to left off Cook. After that point Cook only allowed the Astros two hits. The Astros only got one hit after Cook left the game.
The Rockies tied the game in the fourth when Ryan Spilborghs singled to center scoring Barmes. Hawpe got the game-winning run in the fifth with a single to right off Astros’ reliever Oscar Villarreal, scoring Matt Holliday.
Rodriguez, whose last two outings at Minute Maid Park were strong, lasted only four innings Saturday. The Astros’ starter gave up five hits, two runs (one earned), three walks, and five strikeouts. Oscar Villarreal pitched two innings, allowed two hits, one run, one walk, and struck out two in his third loss of the season.
The Astros (6-12) close out the series with the Rockies Sunday at 1:05 CST. Shawn Chacon (0-0) starts for the Astros against the Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2).
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