Troy Tulowitzki showed why he is an All-Star and the NL captain for the Home Run Derby next week

DENVER -- Troy Tulowitzki showed why he is an All-Star and the NL captain for the Home Run Derby next week. Authentic Korey Cunningham Jersey . More importantly, he is trying to show his young teammates the Colorado are still post-season contenders. He hopes winning a series at home was a fresh start. Tulowitzki hit two of Colorados five home runs, and the Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 6-3 on Wednesday. Drew Stubbs, Charlie Blackmon and Wilin Rosario also went deep for the Rockies, who won a home series for the first time in nearly two months. "Im careful about saying when wins are must-wins or what games are must-wins, but all things considered we needed to win that series," manager Walt Weiss said. Colorado last won a home series taking two of three from San Diego in May. The Rockies managed to split a four-game set with Atlanta in June but lost five other series at Coors Field. They were swept twice and in the process went from second in the NL West to last before taking two straight from the Padres. "A series win is important, especially against a division opponent," Tulowitzki said. Tulowitzki has expressed frustration with Colorados extended slump but hasnt given up on the season. He pointed out the Rockies used big turnarounds after the All-Star break to reach the World Series in 2007 and the playoffs again two years later. "Thats something Im trying to preach to these guys. Anything can happen," Tulowitzki said. "Even though it doesnt look like were in it keep coming to work every single day and hopefully it transfers over. Its been a rough first half but second halves here, those playoff-run years have been pretty good." They took a step with back-to-back homers off reliever Joaquin Benoit (3-1) in the eighth. Blackmon started the rally with a single and Stubbs followed with his ninth homer of the season and fifth in his last five games. Tulowitzki then hit an 0-1 fastball into the left field seats for his 20th home run of the year. It was Tulowitzkis second multihomer game this season and 10th of his career. Benoit had not allowed a run in 19 1-3 innings before Stubbs homer. "Benoit has been outstanding," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He got two strikeouts and a popout to centre and they hit a couple of high flies that went out. One by an All-Star." Boone Logan (2-1) pitched the eighth for the win and LaTroy Hawkins worked the ninth for his 17th save in 18 chances. Jake Goebbert and Seth Smith homered for San Diego. The Padres have not won a series in Denver in two years. Rockies starter Jair Jurrjens didnt experience any of the breathing trouble he suffered from during his Rockies debut last Friday but he was only able to last 4 2-3 innings. He left after the Padres tied the game 3-3 on Smiths solo home run and a wild pitch that scored Chris Denorfia. It was the only run in the game not scored on a homer. "We outhit them but they outhomered us and that was the difference," Black said. Jurrjens gave up eight hits and struck out six before leaving, but it could have been worse. With two runners on in the fifth Yasmani Grandal hit a foul home run down the right-field line, a call that was held up under review. It was the second time in the game Grandal was on the losing end of a review. "I thought it was fair. From my point of view it left the ballpark fair but it was so high that by the time it came down it just went straight out," Grandal said. "It got into the wind stream and blew the other way." Colorados All-Stars got things started in the first off starter Eric Stults. Blackmon hit his fourth leadoff home run of the game and second homer in as many days into the Rockies bullpen. One out later Tulowitzki hit a line drive into the bleachers in left to give Colorado a 2-0 lead. "You can only keep a talent like Tulo down for so long," Weiss said. NOTES: Colorado has hit five homers in a game three times this season. The last time was May 10 at Cincinnati. ... Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez (left index finger tumour) is set to rejoin the team for this weekends series against Minnesota. ... Padres INF Everth Cabrera (left hamstring strain) will meet the team in L.A. on Friday for a series against the Dodgers. ... Rockies 1B Kyle Parker singled in the second for his first major league hit. ... Both teams have Thursday off. Cheap Cardinals Jerseys . - A Tuesday funeral is planned in Toronto for 20-year-old Saginaw Spirit forward Terry Trafford. Cheap Cardinals Jerseys Authentic . On the eve of the 2013-14 NBA season, he can finally take a step back and allow his team to do the talking. http://www.cheaparizonacardinalsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-christian-kirk-jersey . Nathan Beaulieu, Tomas Jurco, Danick Gauthier and Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and an assist each as the Sea Dogs extended the longest streak in the Canadian Hockey League this season.MADRID - Lionel Messi scored a hat trick to give Barcelona a 4-3 win at 10-man Real Madrid in an electrifying and contentious "clasico" match that kept the three-way Spanish league title race wide open. The result means Atletico Madrid now tops the table, with Madrid level on points in second and Barcelona a point behind in third with nine games remaining as the title race shapes up to be the closest in years. In a game that saw three penalties, a red card and a host of missed chances, Andres Iniesta set the tone by rocketing home an early opener, only for Karim Benzemas brace to put the hosts ahead by the 24th. The teams went into the break level at 2-2 after Messi slotted in an equalizer, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to re-establish Madrids lead with a 55th-minute penalty. But Messi scored a pair of penalties after that — including the 65th-minute equalizer after Sergio Ramos was sent off — to end Madrids 31-game unbeaten run stretching back to the last "clasico" in October. Atleticos 2-0 victory at last-place Real Betis earlier on Sunday means it leads Madrid on head-to-head with the city rivals level on 70 points. Barcelona is on 69 points. The high pace of play and buzzing atmosphere inside the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium left little doubt this was a "clasico" with much at stake. Messi spotted Iniestas run down the left side seven minutes in and slid a perfect ball clear into the area for him to lift into the top of goal to kickstart the memorable match. Madrid winger Angel Di Maria troubled right back Dani Alves throughout, especially when he twice set up Benzema with crosses from the left side, with the France striker nodding home the fiirst in the 20th before controlling the second to smash a right-footed volley beyond Victor Valdes. Cheap Arizona Cardinals Jerseys China. The goalkeeper got a glove to Benzemas opener but couldnt keep it out. The strengths and philosophies of each club were apparent as Barcelona looked to set the tempo through possession while Madrid always looked dangerous when breaking on the counter. Madrids defence nodded off when Neymar and Messis hopeful combination came to fruition and the Argentina star could equalize before halftime, with Benzema left ruing a number of missed chances that could have given Madrid control. Gareth Bales speed provided problems for Barcelona down the right, but Ronaldo was equally troublesome along the left and he was tripped by Dani Alves after the break to set up the penalty for his league-leading 26th goal that put Madrid back on top. However, eplays showed the contact had taken place just outside the penalty area. But Barcelona replied when Ramos was shown a straight red for tangling with Neymar and Messi stepped to equalize again. Benzema then came off as Madrid looked to defend the draw, with Barcelona patiently coming forward and Dani Alves sending a shot off the post in the 74th. Iniesta was then taken down by Xabi Alonso and Dani Carvajal in the area to set up the 84th-minute spot kick that Messi slotted home for his 21st goal of the season. Messi climbed to No. 2 on the Spanish leagues all-time scoring list with 235 goals, passing Hugo Sanchez. He also became the leading scorer in "clasico" matches with 21 goals, bettering the mark of 18 he shared with Madrid great Alfredo di Stefano. ___ Follow Paul Logothetis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PaulLogoAP Cheap Chargers Jerseys Cheap Rams Jersey Cheap Dolphins Jerseys Cheap Vikings Jerseys Cheap Patriots Jersey Cheap Saints Jerseys