Major League Baseball

Rockies explode for 8 in 10th in win

Published Jun. 15, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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A simple bunt triggered the highest-scoring extra inning in Colorado Rockies history.

Wilin Rosario hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the 10th and Colorado went on to score a franchise-record eight runs in an extra inning, beating the Detroit Tigers 12-4 on Friday night to snap a season-high, eight-game losing streak.

Jose Valverde (3-2) gave up a leadoff single to Michael Cuddyer in the 10th and allowed him to get to third on a throwing error to first base after Eric Young laid down a sacrifice bunt.

''Eric Young didn't take it for granted once he got the bunt down,'' Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. ''That set up what exploded into an eight-run inning.

Valverde got Jordan Pacheco to ground out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta, whose throw home got Cuddyer out. Rosario broke the tie and Luis Marte gave up back-to-back homers to Carlos Gonzalez and Cuddyer.

''Everyone talks about home runs and doubles, but it was a little bunt that caused us all kind of chaos,'' Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

The last time any team scored at least that many runs in an extra inning was Aug. 16, 2009, when the Angels scored nine runs in the 13th inning at Baltimore.

Matt Belisle (3-2) earned the win with two scoreless innings after Adam Ottavino and Rex Brothers combined for 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief.

Colorado became the last team this season to win an interleague game after going 0-9 against the American League.

''It's great to get that stigma off our back,'' Tracy said. ''This is really good for our club.''

The Tigers had won five of seven during their best stretch since starting the season 9-3.

Before Valverde got roughed up, Tigers relievers Duane Below, Brayan Villarreal, Phil Coke and Joaquin Benoit combined to pitch 5 1-3 scoreless innings.

After two scoreless innings with one hit for each team, both starters - Detroit rookie Casey Crosby and Rockies veteran Jeff Francis - struggled in the next inning, giving up five runs and seven hits combined.

Crosby gave up a single, RBI triple and RBI double to the first three Rockies he faced in the third then walked two straight to load the bases. Detroit's defense got Crosby out of the jam, getting two straight forceouts at home, including an inning-ending double play.

The Tigers went ahead 3-2 in the third on RBI-doubles by Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder's go-ahead single.

Crosby didn't let the home team and sold-out crowd enjoy the lead long.

Chris Nelson, whose RBI triple scored the game's first run, hit a two-run homer in the fourth that bounced on top of the wall in right to put Colorado ahead 4-3.

The Tigers tied the game in the sixth on Brennan Boesch's groundout and failed to take advantage of a chance to go ahead when Delmon Young struck out with the bases loaded after Cabrera and Fielder walked.

''It happens,'' Young said. ''Sometimes you're the bug, sometimes you're a window. I was a bug.''

Crosby gave up four runs, six hits and four walks over 3 2-3 innings in his third career start. Francis allowed four runs, eight hits and three walks over 5 1-3 innings in his second start of the season with the Rockies and 151st with the franchise.

''This was huge for me and for our team,'' Francis said. ''It's a step in the right direction for me, but it is more important that we got a win. It's been a tough stretch and we needed this.''

NOTES: Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki was eligible to come off the DL on Friday, but aggravated his strained left groin and is scheduled to see a specialist Monday for a second opinion. .. Colorado LHP Jorge De La Rosa, on the DL recovering from elbow surgery, is scheduled to see a specialist Wednesday. ... Rockies have begun a season-long nine-game, 10-day trip that will also take them to Philadelphia and Texas.

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