Cook solid as Rockies use HRs by Hawpe, Baker to put away Reds

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Aaron Cook didn't need a win over the Cincinnati Reds to make his latest homecoming memorable.

The Colorado right-hander's wife, Holly, gave birth to their second son Thursday afternoon. Then Cook celebrated by going eight solid innings in the Rockies' 7-2 win over the Reds on Friday night.

"This one will definitely stick out in my memory, once I sit back and take it all in," said Cook, who grew up in Hamilton, about 35 minutes north of Cincinnati.

Brad Hawpe hit a two-run homer, Willy Taveras had three hits and three stolen bases and every Colorado starter had at least one hit as the Rockies won for the seventh time in eight games.

Jeff Baker added a solo homer as the Rockies snapped a four-game road losing streak.

Eight-pound, 3-ounce Colton was born Thursday about 1:30 p.m., giving dad plenty of time to rest before his start. It paid off as Cook (13-6) allowed five hits and one run with four strikeouts for his third win in his last four decisions.

The All-Star hit one batter but didn't walk anybody. Ten of his first 12 outs were on ground balls, with one fly out and one strikeout. He finished with 13 ground ball outs.

"That was typical Aaron Cook," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle. "He pounded the strike zone. This was an emotional day for him."

"That guy was masterful," added Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker. "You can see why he was an All-Star. His ball was moving all over."

Edinson Volquez (12-4) labored through four innings, throwing 99 pitches, only 59 for strikes. He allowed seven hits and five runs with two walks and five strikeouts. He also hit a batter in his second consecutive ineffective start since the All-Star break.

The Reds' All-Star allowed eight hits and four runs in five innings while escaping with no decision against the Mets last Sunday.

"Today, I felt good," said Volquez. "I felt strong. I just think I'm doing something different mechanically. I need to get into the video room and try to figure it out. I'm not hitting my spots like before."

Taveras walked on four pitches to lead off the game and stole second on the fifth pitch. He moved to third on Matt Holliday's one-out single. Hawpe struck out looking, but Holliday stole second to set up Garrett Atkins's two-run double.

The Reds cut the lead in half in the second. Brandon Phillips led off with a single, moved to second on Adam Dunn's groundout and scored on Edwin Encarnacion's single to left.

Baker hit his eighth homer of the season with one out in the third. Holliday followed with a single, and Hawpe made it 5-1 with his 17th homer.

The Rockies added a run in the eighth on Troy Tulowitzki's double, Cook's infield single and Taveras' double and another in the ninth on Atkins' leadoff double and Ian Stewart's single.

"Our offense was using the whole field," Hurdle said. "We made Volquez work. You can see he can be electric."

Joey Votto singled with two outs and scored on Paul Bako's double in the ninth for the Reds.

Game notes
Reds OF Jay Bruce went 0-for-5 to see his hitting streak snapped at 12 games, the longest by an NL rookie this season ... LHP Glendon Rusch will start for Colorado on Tuesday at Pittsburgh, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. The starters for the other two games are still TBA. ... Taveras stole three bases in a game for the second time this season. He has one five-steal game. ... Top 50 tennis players James Blake, Mardy Fish and Sam Querry, in Cincinnati for a Tennis Masters Series tournament, were set to take batting practice before Saturday's game. ... RHP Josh Fogg, who has 30 stitches in his mouth after being hit by a line drive by Votto during batting practice on Tuesday, threw in the bullpen before Friday's game and remains scheduled to start Sunday.