Rockies get well at expense of Twins

DENVER - It is rare for a pitcher to impact a game like Twins righthander Livan Hernandez did on Saturday at Coors Field.

He was perfect for five innings. Defensively, he had five assists. He beat out an infield hit in the fifth. And his sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning helped the Twins tie the score.

It's also unfortunate to contribute so much and still lose. The Rockies pulled out a 3-2 victory to end a six-game losing skid thanks to an umpire's call that went their way in the seventh and a pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth by Ryan Spilborghs.

"It was a good game," said Hernandez (6-2). "I know I lost the game, but I gave the team a chance to win. That was important."

While smarting from the loss, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire had plenty of praise for Hernandez.

Gardenhire appreciated that Hernandez pitched into the eighth inning to give most of the relievers a night off.

"This is his league, as he says," Gardenhire said of Hernandez, a former Marlin, Giant, Expo, National and Diamondback. "He's played in this league. He can get it done."

After the Twins took a 2-1 lead in the seventh, the game turned in the bottom of the inning.

Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday led off with a foul pop toward the stands. Twins first baseman Justin Morneau zeroed in on the ball at the wall, but the ball appeared to hit his glove as a fan (or two) reached for the ball.

"I don't think they reached in," Morneau said, "but I don't think I reached into the stands."

First base umpire Tim Welke ruled the ball was in the stands so there was no fan interference. The call could have gone either way but, at that point, "it doesn't matter what you go argue," Gardenhire said.

Sure enough, Holliday doubled to right after getting a second chance and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Garrett Atkins to tie the score at 2-2.

"If seems like you don't get those breaks when you need them," said Morneau, mindful his team has lost four of its past five games.

Colorado's Jeff Baker, who twice was clobbered by Morneau's take-out slides earlier in the game, doubled to lead off the eighth and was bunted to third.

Gardenhire went to the mound, checked on Hernandez and set up his defense. But Spilborghs shot a single just past the diving attempt of shortstop Adam Everett as Baker scored the lead run.

"I felt he deserved a chance to finish that ballgame," Gardenhire said of Hernandez, who gave up three runs over 7 1/3 innings on eight hits with no walks and no strikeouts -- the second time in Rockies history they failed to strike out or walk in a game.

The Twins got runners on first and third in the ninth, but Rockies closer Brian Fuentes struck out Mike Lamb on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.

It made Hernandez a tough-luck loser.

"He gave us a great opportunity to win a ballgame," Gardenhire said.