Jarvis, Helton Pave Way for Rockies

Kevin Jarvis and the Colorado Rockies took chances on each other last winter. So far, those risks are paying off.

Jarvis gave up five hits over seven innings and Todd Helton had a two-run double as the Colorado Rockies beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-1, on Sunday.

Jarvis (2-1) didn’t give up more than one hit in any inning, and Milwaukee’s only run came on Charlie Hayes’ solo homer in the fourth. Jarvis won for the first time since April 21, his first start of the year--but it was only the latest in a string of solid appearances for a journeyman who may have finally found a home.

“I think we can all be happy for a kid like this,” said Colorado Manager Buddy Bell, who also managed Jarvis in Detroit. “He has always had good stuff, but now he’s starting to put that stuff all together.”

In a career that has included stops on six major league rosters, Jarvis never managed to become a regular starter. During the off-season, he said he passed up a near-guaranteed spot in Florida’s rotation to sign with the Rockies and compete for a roster spot.

“I think ‘persistent’ is an accurate adjective in my case,” Jarvis said.

Helton went three for four with an intentional walk to raise his average to a major league-leading .418. His fourth-inning double off Jimmy Haynes (6-4) scored Tom Goodwin and Terry Shumpert for the game’s first runs.

Helton later scored on Jeffrey Hammonds’ single. The Rockies, who won two of three in Milwaukee, added two runs in the seventh when Shumpert doubled in Jarvis and Jeff Cirillo added a sacrifice fly.

Hammonds had three hits for the Rockies. Helton drove in another run with a ninth-inning double, and he scored on Hammonds’ single off Juan Acevedo.