Rockies produce fireworks

Colorado blasts out of 9-run hole vs. Florida

Colorado's Matt Holliday watches his grand slam leave Coors Field in a game that had 43 hits and 35 runs. (Dave Zalubowski/Associated Press)

The blasts returned to Coors Field last night.

In a throwback to the pre-humidor days, Colorado homered six times and beat the Florida Marlins, 18-17, after trailing by nine runs in the biggest comeback in Rockies history. Chris Iannetta singled home the winning run off Kevin Gregg in the ninth inning.

"That was one of those throwback games from back in the day: the last team to hit," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "This was by far the most fun I've had watching our team swinging the bat in a long time, if not ever. You go up and down the lineup, there's a whole host of stars."

Garrett Atkins, who had a career-best five hits, drove in the tying run off Gregg (6-4), who blew his second save in 24 hours. After Hanley Ramirez's error on a potential double-play ground ball loaded the bases, Iannetta singled to left through a drawn-in infield.

The last time a team came back to win from nine down was Aug. 23, 2006, when Cleveland rallied for a 15-13 victory at Kansas City, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Colorado scored in every inning but the eighth, yet trailed until Atkins's tying single in the ninth. Taylor Buchholz (3-2) threw one inning for the win.

In the highest-scoring game at Coors Field since the humidor was introduced in 2002, the Rockies and Marlins combined for 35 runs on 43 hits, 21 for extra bases with eight home runs.

The Rockies hit a half-dozen homers, two each by Ryan Spilborghs and Matt Holliday, who had his third career grand slam. Atkins and Iannetta also went deep for Colorado.

Until Gregg blew his second straight save, lefthander Scott Olsen was in line for the win despite allowing nine runs (eight earned) on 11 hits - including three homers - in five innings.

The Rockies scored 12 straight runs via the long ball after falling behind, 13-4, in the fourth inning.

Rays 11, Royals 2 - Edwin Jackson took a two-hitter into the eighth and Carlos Peña homered and drove in five runs, helping host Tampa Bay win its fifth straight.

Jackson (5-6) matched his win total for last season, limiting the Royals to David DeJesus's first-inning single and Mark Grudzielanek's solo homer in the seventh before giving up two singles and an unearned run in the eighth.

Tampa Bay won for the ninth time in 10 games, improved baseball's best record to 53-32, and maintained a three-game lead in the AL East over the Red Sox.

Cubs 2, Cardinals 1 - Carlos Zambrano (9-3) came off the 15-day disabled list from a shoulder strain with six spotless innings, leading Chicago at St. Louis in the opener of a three-game series matching the NL's top teams.

Phillies 3, Mets 2 - Shane Victorino's two-out RBI single in the ninth lifted host Philadelphia to its fourth straight win.

Duaner Sanchez (3-1) retired the first two batters before Pedro Feliz doubled to left field. Victorino followed with a liner to right on a 1-and-2 pitch to score Feliz and send a sellout crowd into a frenzy.

Reds 3, Nationals 0 - Ken Griffey Jr. hit a two-run drive for career homer No. 604 and Bronson Arroyo worked six innings, leading host Cincinnati over Washington.

Dodgers 10, Giants 7 - Andre Ethier homered and hit a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth, Derek Lowe won for the first time in three starts, and visiting Los Angeles rallied for its fourth straight victory.

Brewers 9, Pirates 1 - J.J. Hardy and Bill Hall hit two-run homers, Ben Sheets (10-2) worked out of several jams to earn the win, and Milwaukee routed visiting Pittsburgh.

Mariners 4, Tigers 1 - Raul Ibañez clanged a solo home run and Jose Lopez added a key two-run double in the eighth to help host Seattle win for the eighth time in 11 games.

Orioles 10, Rangers 4 - Freddie Bynum tied a career high with three RBIs as host Baltimore roughed up 10-game winner Vicente Padilla.

Athletics 7, White Sox 1 - Jack Cust hit a two-run homer and Joe Blanton pitched seven solid innings for Oakland as host Chicago dropped its second straight after winning seven in a row.

Twins 12, Indians 3 - Delmon Young hit a three-run home run and had a season-high four RBIs, and Nick Punto homered and had four RBIs as host Minnesota won for the 14th time in 16 games.

Braves 6, Astros 2 - Jason Perry hit a run-scoring triple in his first major league at-bat, Tim Hudson gave up only one run in seven innings, and host Atlanta snapped a five-game losing streak.

Angels 8, Blue Jays 2 - Howie Kendrick drove in three runs, and host Los Angeles got homers from Torii Hunter and Garret Anderson in an easy win over Toronto.

Padres 5, Diamondbacks 1 - Cha Seung Baek threw six shutout innings for his first win in seven starts this season, and visiting San Diego dropped NL West-leading Arizona (43-44) below .500.