New York – When the Rockies arrived Wednesday morning, it was debatable which was more the daunting construction project: the Mets new ballpark sprouting from the ground beyond center field or Colorado’s lineup.
His team strangled to two runs in the previous 22 innings and sitting a season-high five games below .500, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle rebuilt the batting order. Garrett Atkins, Jamey Carroll and Yorvit Torrealba were given days off, Willy Taveras returned, Todd Helton stayed put and Matt Holliday moved up to the third spot.
The hunch came up nails, with the Rockies’ racking up a season high 20 hits in an 11-5 thrashing of the New York Mets, considered by most the National League’s best team.
One night after closer Brian Fuentes couldn’t save the victory, the Rockies saved face with their offensive barrage. After losing five of their previous six games, this victory, predictably, came with notable distinctions:
* John Mabry, starting in Atkins’ place, delivered his first home run as a Rockie, a three-run blast off starter Mike Pelfrey. Mabry’s two hits matched his previous season total.
* Taveras collected a career-high five hits, returning to the lineup after missing three of the past four games. He entered the game with 10 hits on the season.
* The Rockies’ 11 runs equaled their total in the last six games.
* It was only their third win at Shea Stadium in their past 20 attempts.
One night after a white-knuckle, heart-in-a-blender loss, the Rockies avoided drama with a five-run third inning. They sent nine batters to the plate, collected six hits, including an RBI single by Holliday. Josh Fogg rebounded from last weekend’s ugly loss to the Padres to pick up the victory with seven innings of three-run ball.
Staff writer Troy Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
