HOUSTON — For Aaron Cook, it’s a matter of trust — in himself and his super sinker.
Cook had both Saturday night as the Rockies held off the Houston Astros for a 3-2 victory.
When closer Manuel Corpas set the Astros down in order in the ninth for his fourth save, Colorado had its fourth straight victory and fifth in its last six games, all coming on the road. Coupled with Friday night’s victory, it marked the first time the Rockies won more than one game in the same season at Minute Maid Park.
High drama arrived in the seventh when Houston’s Geoff Blum led off with a deep drive to center field. Ryan Spilborghs, his back to home plate, made a diving stab at the ball, crash landing on his belly. He emerged with the ball in his right hand, and second base umpire Mark Wegner ruled it a catch. Though fans howled in protest, and Houston manager Cecil Cooper was tossed for arguing, the call stood.
Houston batters repeatedly pounded Cook’s sinker into the dirt. By the end of his seven innings of work, Cook had induced 11 groundball outs. He allowed just four hits, walked just one and struck out four.
Cook improved to 2-1 and shrank his ERA to 3.12.
Brad Hawpe, playing in front of a large group of friends and family members, drove in Matt Holliday with a single in the fifth inning. It broke a 2-2 and proved to be the winning run.
Cook aided his cause with a run-
scoring single in the second, driving in Garrett Atkins from second. Spilborghs, starting in center field for Willy Taveras, knocked in Clint Barmes with a single in the fourth.
Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez left the game with a sore left groin
after pitching just four innings. He gave up two runs on five hits.
Houston scratched out a run off Cook in the first when leadoff man Michael Bourn reached first when Barmes booted Bourn’s grounder at second. Bourn stole second, advanced to third on Kazuo Matsui’s single and scored on Miguel Tejada’s double-play groundout.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
