Rockies Give Leyland 1000th Win

Jim Leyland's crusty, gruff exterior was no match for the emotional impact of posting his 1,000th managerial victory.

After Brian Bohanon pitched the Colorado Rockies to a 6-4 victory over San Diego on Thursday to give the skipper No. 1,000, Leyland became choked up in discussing the feat.

"I really wasn't worried about that," he said. "I was more worried about getting win No. 3 for our team.

"I guess I'm the 43rd guy or something to have that many. Obviously, I have too many losses (1,046). But that's a lot of hard work, by a lot of players, and I appreciate that."

As it became difficult to talk, Leyland waved the media from his office, saying, "I'm done."

Leyland, in his first season as Colorado's manager after stints with Pittsburgh and Florida, ranks 45th on baseball's career list. Only three other active managers -- Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre -- have reached the 1,000-victory plateau.

Leyland could thank Bohanon, who pitched no-hit ball for 5 1-3 innings and helped his cause with an RBI single.

Bohanon, mixing a baffling assortment of off-speed pitches, lost his no-hit bid in the sixth when Eric Owens lined a two-run double into the gap in left-center. The hit scored Dave Magadan, who had walked, and Quilvio Veras, who had reached on left fielder Dante Bichette's error.

Bohanon (2-0), who signed a free-agent contract with the Rockies last November, went 7 1-3 innings, surrendering just three hits, including a two-run homer to Tony Gwynn in the eighth.

"I thought he was tremendous," Leyland said. "He was fantastic."

Asked why he felt a fnesse pitcher like Bohanon could thrive in Coors Field, Leyland said: "I think a changeup is a real good pitch in this ballpark, and he's got a dandy. He got some real big outs with that pitch today. I think hitters look to hit the ball out of this ballpark a little bit more, and if you can change speeds and keep them off-balance, you've got an advantage."

One day after the teams were snowed out, the game was played in 35-degree temperatures with a wind chill of 18 degrees -- but no snow. Several players wore ski masks or head socks to ward off the chill.

"I've never been that cold playing baseball in my life," Gwynn said. "It was freezing. I know both pitchers had trouble getting a grip on the ball."

Bohanon, however, likes pitching in cold weather.

"Hitters don't like to hit in it," he said. "They will hit the ball off the end of the bat when they get jammed. As a pitcher, it's to your advantage. I'm going to go in there hard with the cutter and do whatever it takes to keep the ball off the big part of the bat."

Padres manager Bruce Bochy said Bohanon "did a good job of throwing strikes. You think you can get a hit off of him, but he's crafty. He knows how to pitch."

Bochy called Leyland's 1,000th "quite a milestone. I wish it wasn't against us, but I'm happy for him."

Defending NL batting champion Larry Walker, sidelined the first seven games with a strained muscle in his right rib cage, went 1-for-4 in his 1999 debut.

Gwynn, who went 1-for-4, raised his career hit total to 2,942.

Dave Veres pitched the ninth for his second save.

The Rockies got to Matt Clement (0-2) for a run in the third when Neifi Perez singled, went to third on Walker's double and scored on a wild pitch.

In the fourth, Mike Lansing reached on third baseman Carlos Garcia's throwing error, Jeff Reed walked and Bohanon hit an RBI single up the middle. Darryl Hamilton walked, and Reed scored on Perez's fielder's-choice grounder.

Colorado chased Clement in the fifth, bunching four straight hits - three of which barely eluded diving outfielders. With one out, Vinny Castilla doubled, Todd Helton hit an RBI double, Lansing an RBI single and Reed an RBI double.

Notes

• Wednesday night's snowed-out game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on July 3, with game times of 1:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m.
• Bohanon's 5 1-3 innings of no-hit ball to start a game tied the Colorado record held by Darryl Kile (April 30, 1998, vs. New York Mets) and Juan Acevedo (June 10, 1995, vs. Chicago Cubs).
• In his first start of the season last week, Bohanon did not allow an earned run in seven innings.
• Gwynn needs just one more hit to tie Frank Robinson for 24th place in major league history.

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