DENVER -- Todd Helton has spent much of his career sending balls down the left-field line at spacious Coors Field. [url=http://www.wholesalenikeshoesclearance.com/]Nike Shoes Clearance Outlet[/url] . It was only fitting, then, that he reached a major milestone the same way. Helton doubled for his 2,5

DENVER -- Todd Helton has spent much of his career sending balls down the left-field line at spacious Coors Field. Nike Shoes Clearance Outlet . It was only fitting, then, that he reached a major milestone the same way. Helton doubled for his 2,500th career hit, Michael Cuddyer homered among his four hits and the Colorado Rockies overcame the loss of starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood to beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-4 on Sunday. Helton became the 96th player in major league history to reach 2,500 hits, and it came after a tough couple of days. Helton homered twice Friday to move within one hit of the milestone but went 0 for 4 on Saturday. He flied out, struck out and walked Sunday before facing reliever Curtis Partch in the seventh inning. "Every at-bat felt like it was getting longer and longer," Helton said. "I was getting a little concerned because I definitely wanted to get 2,500 here at home in front of the home crowd." Helton worked the count full against Partch before lacing a 96 mph fastball down the left-field line. He just beat the throw to second for his 584th career double. "A line-hugger that barely stayed fair, on a 3-2 count. Thats whats kept me in the league this long," Helton said. "Thats my bread and butter, to go the other way, especially with two strikes. To do it on the 2,500th is very fitting." It also was fitting he was called safe on a close play at second. "Ill probably remember the umpire yelling safe because he could have very easily yelled out," Helton said. He received a standing ovation from the crowd of 30,594 and tipped his helmet to the cheering fans. After the inning ended, the scoreboard showed a short highlight video of Heltons career. "As hes been closing in on it theres been a lot of excitement in the clubhouse," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Its great to be a part of it. I got to see Todd in his very first game and to be here for his 2,500th hit, its a great experience for me. He showed up with a lot of hype and hes lived up to that hype. Every bit of it, and then some. Its been an amazing career." The Rockies had the game in hand before Heltons big moment after breaking it open in the fifth against Reds starter Mike Leake. DJ LeMahieus two-run double snapped a 2-all tie, Troy Tulowitzki walked and Cuddyer doubled to make it 5-2. Cuddyer finished 4 for 4 with three RBIs. Nolan Arenado, who homered earlier, added a sacrifice fly off reliever Alfredo Simon. Leake (11-6) allowed six runs on eight hits and struck out four in 4 1-3 innings. "It was a little frustrating just because I wasnt throwing the ball exactly where I wanted today," Leake said. Cuddyers 18th home run leading off the seventh gave the Rockies a 7-2 cushion. "We couldnt get Cuddyer out," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. Cincinnati scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to get within three before Rex Brothers got the final out. Shin-Soo Choo homered and had three hits for the Reds. Chris Heisey was 4 for 4. Chatwood, activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game, left in the third with a bruised right thumb after he tried to catch Leakes line drive up the middle with his bare hand. He was checked by a team trainer and initially stayed in the game. The right-hander allowed a two-run homer to Choo, his 18th, and walked the next two batters before leaving. "It started swelling up a little bit and I kind of lost a little bit of feeling in it," Chatwood said. "Its frustrating. You wait a month to start and that happens. I had no feeling in my thumb." He was replaced by righty Adam Ottavino, who got out of the inning with some nifty defence. With runners on first and second and two outs, Heisey reached on an infield single up the middle. Joey Votto tried to score from second but Helton, who took a relay from Tulowitzki, wheeled and threw out Votto standing up. Ottavino (1-2) tossed three scoreless innings to get the win. The Rockies staked Chatwood to an early 2-0 lead on an RBI double by Cuddyer in the first and a leadoff homer by Arenado in the second. That helped Helton celebrate his milestone with a victory. The lifetime Rockie, who is strongly contemplating retirement at the end of this season, his 17th, wanted to reach 2,500 hits quickly so he could enjoy the final month of the year. "It took me three days to get it, so I had a lot of time to think about it," he said. "I was pretty grouchy last night and this morning. I started feeling a little bit of the pressure, so its a relief. I can go out and play and relax and finish this year with a bang." NOTES: Helton moved past Robin Yount into 17th place on the career doubles list. ... Plate umpire Brian ONora left abruptly in the top of the eighth due to illness. The game continued with three umps. ... The Rockies recalled INF Josh Rutledge from Triple-A before the game. ... The Reds recalled Partch, INF Henry Rodriguez and OF Derrick Robinson. ... Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (0-3) will open a three-game series against the Dodgers on Monday. ... Reds RHP Mat Latos (13-5) starts Monday against St. Louis. Nike Air Max Plus Tn Ultra Cheap . Now, Sarah Burkes legacy will live on in Canadas Sports Hall of Fame. Burke, who tragically died at age 29 from a training accident in 2012, headlined the 2014 class named for induction Wednesday. Air Max 97 Factory Outlet . LOUIS - The St. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesclearance.com/cheap-paul-george-shoes.html . Then he got back at the team that released him five days before the start of last season, hitting a tiebreaking double in the ninth inning of the first game at Fenway Park since Boston won the World Series last October.LOS ANGELES, Calif. - On the night Dirk Nowitzki overtook Dominique Wilkins on the career scoring list, Brandan Wright was a human highlight film all by himself. Wright made all 10 of his shots to finish with a season-high 23 points off the bench, and the Dallas Mavericks strengthened their hold on a playoff berth with a 107-95 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. "Thats what he does for us," Nowitzki said. "He makes some great stuff happen for us. Tonight he didnt miss a shot. He was phenomenal." Wright, who has come off the bench in all 53 of his games this season, began the day averaging 9.0 points and a team-best 67.5 per cent from the field (199 for 295). "I cant remember the last time I had a game where I didnt miss a shot, so its a good feeling — plus, we got the win," said the six-year veteran swingman. Nowitzkis 27 points increased his career total to 26,778, putting him in 11th place and within 32 of Oscar Robertson. "Unbelievable. Its been a crazy ride for 16 years, and its been surreal," Nowitzki said. "I used to be a big fan of Dominique, watched all of his dunk contests and the many ways he could score. Sometimes he would miss his shot and be the first one there to dunk over two people. He was so much fun to watch." The Mavericks, back at Staples Center one night after beating the Clippers, played their first road game against the Lakers since beating them 99-91 on opening night of last season. They have won all three meetings with the Lakers — the first time they swept the season series since this rivalry began in 1980-81. "I said it last night — that a win against the Clippers meant nothing if we lost today. And thats how we came out," Nowitzki said. Jodie Meeks had 25 points for the Lakers, who have dropped 13 of their last 17 and are 25-51 — their most losses since finishing a franchise-worst 30-52 in 1974-75. "It was an up-and-down game," Wright said. "Coming off a physical, tough game last night and then playing a team tonight with a lot of young guys and skill guys who were fresh and had nothing to lose, it was a recipe for a loss. But we took note of what they did to Phoenix the other night." Lakers centre Pau Gasol was sidelined for the sixth time in seven games because of a severe case of vertigo. Xavier Henry is done for the season because of residual pain from an injured right knee and a torn ligament in his left wrist that has limited him to 43 games, and he will undergo surgeery in the near future. Air Max 270 Black Wholesale. Coach Mike DAntoni, who hasnt had a full deck to work with for most of this injury-jinxed season, sent out a starting lineup consisting of Meeks and four others who had started a combined total of 23 NBA games entering this season: Jordan Hill (20), Kendall Marshall (three), Kent Bazemore (none) and rookie Ryan Kelly. "Theyre playing inspired basketball," Bazemore said of Dallas. "If anyone needs to win right now, its them. It was definitely a total team effort from them, and Dirk Nowitzki kept us at arms length all night, hitting big shots, and Brandan Wright was very good for them." The Lakers led 54-52 at halftime against another team on the playoff bubble that took them a bit too lightly at the start. Dallas concluded a contentious 10-game stretch in which four games were settled in overtime and four others were decided by margins of six points or fewer. Three of the overtime games resulted in losses to Minnesota, Brooklyn and Golden State. The Mavericks opened the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run, which Wright capped with a short jumper that extended their lead to 91-78 with 10 minutes to play. The Lakers got no closer than 10 the rest of the way. NOTES: Dallas F Shawn Marion recorded his 1,725th career steal, breaking a tie with Magic Johnson for 17th place, when he intercepted a pass by Wesley Johnson with 3:02 left in the first quarter. ... Umpires Joe West, Marty Foster and Alan Porter, who are in town to work the Dodgers-Giants series, attended the game. ... The Lakers havent been under .500 this deep into a season since 1993-94, when they were 21-35 after 56 games and finished 33-49. That was the first of only two times that they didnt make the playoffs during the 34 seasons that the franchise was owned by the late Jerry Buss. ... Steve Nash had seven assists in 18 minutes and increased his career total to 10,330, four shy of Mark Jackson for third place. ... Vince Carter, who was 0 for 8 from 3-point range, needs one more 3-pointer to become the seventh player in NBA history to make at least 1,800. ... The Lakers face the Clippers for the final time this season on Sunday, after losing six of their last seven meetings with their Staples Center co-tenants. The only win was on opening night. Since then, the Clippers have humiliated them by margins of 36 and 48 points. ... The Mavericks have to win four of their final five regular-season games to record their 14th 50-win season in club history and 12th in 14 years. ' ' '