Rockies rally for sixth win in a row

DENVER — Seth Smith hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning to give the surging Colorado Rockies a 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.

Colorado won its sixth consecutive game and extended its NL wild-card lead to four over San Francisco.

Clint Barmes started the winning rally with a one-out double off All-Star closer Francisco Cordero (2-5). Pinch-hitters Jason Giambi and Ryan Spilborghs then walked before Cordero struck out Carlos Gonzalez to bring Smith to the plate.

Smith fouled off four pitches before lining a base hit off second baseman Brandon Phillips to drive in Barmes and pinch-runner Jason Marquis.

Smith’s hit rescued the Rockies after they blew a 2-0 lead in the eighth inning.

Darnell McDonald and pinch-hitter Kevin Barker had RBI doubles and Scott Rolen put Cincinnati in front with a leadoff homer in the ninth, his second with the Reds.

Jason Hammel pitched 7 1/3 innings for the Rockies, allowing two runs and three hits. He retired 20 of 21 batters after Paul Janish’s one-out double in the first.