Major League Baseball

Hammel's gem helps Rox get by Tigers

Published May. 24, 2009 9:24 p.m. ET

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Todd Helton drove in two runs, Jason Hammel pitched into the seventh inning for his first win this season and the Colorado Rockies beat Dontrelle Willis and the Detroit Tigers 3-1 Sunday.

Hammel (1-3) was making his sixth start since joining the rotation in late April. He allowed one run on six hits and three walks in six-plus innings. Three relievers finished the Rockies' interleague series win, with Huston Street pitching the ninth for his seventh save in as many tries.

Willis (1-1) allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings. Willis has a 3.57 ERA in three starts after missing the first six weeks of the season with an anxiety disorder. Willis' streak of scoreless innings ended at 11, when Helton made it 1-all with an RBI double in the fifth.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead on Dane Sardinha's bases-loaded single, but Josh Anderson grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Colorado put runners on second and third in the third, pulling off a double steal, but Willis caught Helton looking for his third strikeout of the inning and fourth of the game.

The Tigers had two runners on in the sixth, but Ryan Spilborghs ended the threat by reaching into the stands to snare Brandon Inge's foul pop.

Helton gave the Rockies a 2-1 lead with a run-scoring single with two out in the seventh - his fourth RBI in two days - and Matt Murton followed with an RBI double to chase Willis.

The Rockies had a chance to add a fourth run in the eighth, putting a runner on third with one out, but Clint Barmes popped out and Ian Stewart struck out.

Notes

Magglio Ordonez extended his hitting streak to 10 games with his fourth-inning double. ... Helton was 1 for 11 against Willis before the run-scoring double and single. ... Willis came into the game with a 3-0 record in four career starts against Colorado, all with Florida. ... The Rockies placed C Scott Iannetta (hamstring) on the disabled list before the game and purchased the contract of C Paul Phillips from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

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