DENVER -- Florida manager Jack McKeon didn't want his players to be fooled into thinking they were beaten by the long ball.
Vinny Castilla hit a tiebreaking three-run double in the eighth inning, and Jeromy Burnitz homered twice to lead the Colorado Rockies over the Florida Marlins 13-10 Tuesday night.
"I told our guys that it was those other things, not the home run that beats you here," McKeon said. "They hit five home runs, but it was the walks, singles and a double that got us tonight."
Burnitz, Charles Johnson and Matt Holliday hit consecutive home runs to start the third inning, the second time in franchise history Colorado has hit three straight homers.
"We've been taking some beatings in the last few days and to give up a lot of runs and to battle back tonight. It's emotional," Burnitz said. "It's a good feeling to come back like that. Especially when we were down pretty much most of the game."
Burnitz also threw out two runners at the plate from the outfield in the fifth inning.
"It seemed like arena football," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "That's vintage Coors Field right there where the last bucket wins."
Royce Clayton tied the game at 10 with a two-out single off Nate Bump after the Rockies loaded the bases on a double by Johnson, a hit batsman and a walk against Chad Fox (0-1).
"I hate to wear it out, but it helps knowing that the guy ( Todd Helton) behind you is somebody they really don't want to mess around with, especially with the bases loaded," Clayton said. "When you get in a situation -- 3-1, I didn't have to go after it because they would still have to come to me 3-2."
Helton was walked intentionally to load the bases again, and Castilla sent a 2-2 pitch to the wall in left. Shawn Chacon pitched a scoreless ninth for his fourth save.
"I was terrible," Fox said. "I wish I had an excuse, but I don't. I fell behind and made bad pitches."
Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI, and Luis Castillo had two hits to become the first Marlins player to reach 1,000.
Jeff Conine went 4-for-5 with three RBI.
Cabrera broke an 8-all tie in the eighth with a two-run homer off Vladimir Nunez (2-0).
Juan Pierre singled with one out after Holliday dropped his foul fly in left.
The Marlins led 3-0 after one inning on a two-run double by Cabrera and a bloop RBI single by Conine.
Burnitz hit the first of his home runs in the second to make it 3-1. The Rockies took a 4-3 lead in the third on Clayton's two-out RBI single and Helton's two-run homer on an 0-2 pitch.
Doubles by Conine and Alex Gonzalez tied it at 4 for the Marlins.
Colorado regained the lead, 7-4, in the fourth when Burnitz, Johnson and Holiday hit solo home runs on five pitches, all to left off Darren Oliver.
The Marlins chased Shawn Estes in a four-run fifth inning. Wil Cordero had an RBI single and Conine hit a two-run double into the left-field corner off Estes. Castillo put Florida ahead 8-7 with his 1,000th hit.
Burnitz threw out two runners at the plate in the inning.
Castilla tied it at 8 in the fifth with an RBI double.
"All I know is I went to the dentist today," Hurdle said. "And I had more fun there."
Notes
- The five home runs allowed were the most given up by Florida in a game.
- Conine (.386) has the fourth-highest career batting average against the Rockies.
- Burnitz has eight home runs the past two years against the Marlins and 19 multihomer games in his career.
- Luis Gonzalez got the start against Oliver despite being 0-for-14 against left-handers.
- Clayton has a 10-game hitting streak.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2004, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
