ASSOCIATED PRESS Tigers catcher Dane Sardinha, a Kamehameha alum, spoke to pitcher Kenny Rogers yesterday after Sardinha's triple helped Detroit to a win over Colorado.

Sardinha’s first hit a game-winner

Kamehameha graduate Dane Sardinha's first major league hit proved to be the difference in Detroit's 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies yesterday.

Sardinha, making his second start since being called up from Triple-A Toledo last week, delivered a two-run triple in the sixth inning off Rockies reliever Matt Herges as Detroit completed a series sweep and climbed over .500 for the first time this season.

Sardinha made his major league debut in 2003 with the Cincinnati Reds and entered yesterday's game 0-for-9 in three big league games.

FULL STORY »

Dane Sardinha felt like a goat after grounding into a rally-killing double play. That made it all the better when his first major league hit made him a hero.

Sardinha, a Kamehameha alumnus, hit a two-run triple to rally Detroit to a win over woeful Colorado, giving Detroit a three-game sweep and a winning record for the first time this season.

"It was a pretty good feeling," Sardinha said. "Especially my previous at-bat I had a chance to tie the game, first and third, a sacrifice would have worked but I grounded into a double play to end the inning. I was kind of frustrated. Thank God I redeemed myself the next at-bat."

Detroit, which won its fifth straight and 15th in its last 18, also got three hits and an RBI from Marcus Thames.

Troy Tulowitzki homered for Colorado, which lost its seventh straight.

Kenny Rogers allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings. Freddy Dolsi pitched two perfect innings and Todd Jones bounced back from his first blown save of the season on Saturday night for a 1-2-3 ninth and his 15th save in 16 chances.

Detroit pitchers retired the final 17 Rockies batters in a row, beginning when Todd Helton hit into a first-to-short-to-pitcher double play with runners on first and second to end the fourth inning.

"The double play was probably as big as any other play in the game," Rogers said. "I got there in time, luckily. I don't think Todd's running as good as he could have. Gotta make those plays. It was probably a change in the game's momentum."

Even before that, the Rockies found ways to squelch their own momentum. They loaded the bases with none out in the third, but Jeff Baker popped out to second and Clint Barmes then grounded to the pitcher for an easy 1-2-3 double play.

"Our approach against Rogers, at first, was pretty good. ... He made the adjustments," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "Couldn't hit the kid (Dolsi) and Jones, we got him last night, couldn't get him today."

Greg Reynolds (2-6) allowed four runs and 10 hits in 52/3 innings.