Carlos Lee’s grand slam in 10th propels Astros to 6-2 win over Rockies

Lee hits grand slam in 10th, Astros beat Rockies

DENVER — Carlos Lee hit a grand slam with two outs in the 10th inning after an intentional walk Wednesday night, lifting the Houston Astros over the Colorado Rockies 6-2.

Lee connected for his 15th career slam, launching the first pitch from Matt Belisle (1-3) to deep left field. The win was the seventh in nine games this month for the Astros.

Brandon Lyon (5-1) eased out of trouble in the ninth to earn the victory. The Rockies put two runners on base, hit Carlos Gonzalez lined out to third baseman Pedro Feliz to end the inning.

Tommy Manzella led off the Houston 10th with a single and was sacrificed to second by pinch-hitter Cory Sullivan. Michael Bourn singled to short left field, and Manzella held at third. After Bourn stole second, Jeff Keppinger struck out, ending his 10-game hitting streak.

The Rockies intentionally walked Lance Berkman and Lee followed with his ninth homer of the season.

Colorado scored in the sixth to tie it at 2. Jonathan Herrera singled for his first hit in eight at-bats since being recalled May 31 from Triple-A Colorado Springs and Brad Hawpe hit an RBI double with two outs.

Rockies starter Aaron Cook was hit in the back of the right shoulder by Feliz’s line drive in the fourth, and the ricocheted to shortstop Troy Tulowitzki for the final out.

Cook gave up two singles to start the fifth and found himself with the bases loaded and no out when he fielded Felipe Paulino’s bunt and unsuccessfully tried to throw out the lead runner at third. Bourn singled up the middle to score two runs and put the Astros ahead 2-1, but Cook minimized the damage by getting Keppinger to ground into a double play and Berkman to ground out.

A mistake on the bases cost the Rockies in the fifth. With one out and runners on first and second, Cook missed a first-pitch sacrifice attempt, but Seth Smith strayed too far from second base and was picked off by catcher Humberto Quintero.

The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the second when Melvin Mora doubled and scored on Smith’s single. Mora made his first start of the season at first base, a position he had played in five previous games, as manager Jim Tracy benched Todd Helton. A 3-for-37 slump had dropped Helton’s average to a season-low .240 with one home run and 11 RBIs.

Helton’s previous career-low for this date was .260 in 2005. Helton pinch-hit and popped out to end the seventh.

Paulino pitched a season-high eight innings for the third straight start, allowing eight hits and two runs with two walks and seven strikeouts.

NOTES: Rockies closer Huston Street is scheduled to make back-to-back appearances Thursday and Friday on a rehab assignment for Triple-A Colorado and could be activated early next week. He has been on the disabled list all season. He had right shoulder inflammation in spring training and then strained his right groin May 15 in a rehab appearance for Double-A Tulsa. … LHP Jorge De La Rosa, who last pitched April 25 for the Rockies, threw 43 pitches in a bullpen session and is scheduled to throw 50-plus in another session Saturday. De La Rosa has been sidelined with a torn tendon band on the middle finger of his left hand, but the finger did not bother him as he threw his full repertoire of pitches Wednesday.