texas

Paulsen Single in 9th Lifts Rockies Past Rangers

Ben Paulsen hit a tiebreaking single with one out in the bottom of the ninth, and the Colorado Rockies recovered from blowing a seven-run lead to beat the Texas Rangers 8-7 on Monday night.

Troy Tulowitzki homered and Nolan Arenado had two RBIs for Colorado, which has won a season-best five in a row at home.

Prince Fielder had two hits and three RBIs and Adrian Beltre had three hits for the Rangers, who have lost 10 of 12.

Beltre's second double of the night tied the game at 7 in the ninth against closer John Axford (2-2) but the Rockies rallied in the bottom of the inning. Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez led off with singles off Tanner Scheppers (3-1). One out later Paulsen lined a single to left-center to score pinch-runner Drew Stubbs from second base.

It was Colorado's fourth walk-off win of the season, but it didn't seem necessary after the Rockies took a 7-0 lead in the second inning.

Arenado had a two-run double in the three-run first and Tulowitzki capped a four-run second with a two-run homer to left, his 12th on the season, to put Colorado ahead.

Arenado tied Paul Goldschmidt for the major league lead in RBIs with 72.

Starter Nick Martinez, called up from Triple-A before the game, settled down and allowed Texas to get back into it. The Rangers chipped away with a two runs in the third and then made it a game in the fifth with some alert base running.

With runners on second and third and one out, Fielder grounded to first. Paulsen field it, touched the bag and started jogging to the dugout before realizing Rougned Odor was heading home from second. Paulsen's throw to the plate was late and Odor slid in safely to make it 7-5.

Fielder was awarded two RBIs on the play and he now has 57 on the season.

Beltre's double in the seventh made it 7-6.

Rockies starter Chris Rusin allowed five runs — two earned — in six innings. He has five consecutive quality starts and has a 2.97 ERA in that span.

STREAKING

Tulowitzki reached base for the 41st straight game, tied for second longest in team history behind Michael Cuddyer (46 in 2013). DJ LeMahieu extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a triple in the second inning.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: Manager Walt Weiss said he is encouraged with RHP Chad Bettis' right elbow. Bettis was placed on the 15-day DL on Sunday with right elbow inflammation but it seems to have improved. "It checked out pretty well today," Weiss said. "It's always concerning when there's elbow inflammation with a pitcher."

UP NEXT

Rangers: LHP Matt Harrison (0-1, 13.50 ERA) will make his second start of the season Tuesday. Harrison has started just seven games since 2012 because of four surgeries, three on his back.

Rockies: RHP Kyle Kendrick (3-10, 5.94 ERA) made his first relief appearance of the season against Atlanta on July 12. He has not recorded a win since beating Arizona on June 23, which is his only victory at Coors Field this season.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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