DENVER (AP) – Jason Jennings pitched a seven-hitter for his second career shutout, leading the Colorado Rockies over the Houston Astros 5-0 Saturday night.
Jennings (2-2) struck out a season-high nine, walked one and retired 12 in a row during one stretch. He was 0-2 in his previous four starts and last won April 9 at San Diego.
He had three previous complete games, the last coming April 22, 2005, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. His only shutout came in his major league debut for Colorado against the New York Mets on July 23, 2001.
He had never beaten the Astros in three previous career starts.
Choo Freeman and Todd Helton each drove in a run and finished with two hits. Matt Holliday hit his seventh home run.
Wandy Rodriguez (4-1) worked six innings, allowing a season-high five runs and seven hits.
Jennings allowed a two-out double to Eric Munson in the second inning. After Munson’s double, Jennings retired 12 in a row before Willy Taveras reached on a bunt single with two outs in the sixth. Lance Berkman walked, but Jennings got Morgan Ensberg on a called third strike.
Freeman and Helton had RBI singles in the first inning after the first three Rockies reached base.
Rodriguez hit Clint Barmes with one out in the second. Three pitches later Miguel Ojeda doubled into the left-field corner to score Barmes and make it 3-0.
In the third, Freeman beat out an infield single and moved to third on Helton’s single to center. Garrett Atkins hit a sacrifice fly to center to give Colorado a four-run lead.
Holliday hit a solo home run with one out in the sixth inning, a drive into the Houston bullpen in center.
Notes: Two jets from the USS Hornet were part of a pregame flyover. … Slumping OF Jason Lane, 1-for-18, was out of Houston’s starting lineup. … OF Chris Burke left the game in the sixth inning after crashing into the wall in right-center field while making the catch on a ball hit by Atkins. He suffered a shoulder injury. … Two of the hits Jennings gave up were bunt singles. … Colorado RHP Mike DeJean (right shoulder tendinitis) threw a simulated game without pain before Saturday’s game.
AP-ES-05-06-06 2230EDT
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