Rockies prevail in wild one

The blasts returned to Coors Field on Friday night, long before the fireworks.

In a throwback to the pre-humidor days, Colorado homered six times and beat the Florida Marlins 18-17 in Denver, after trailing by nine runs in the biggest comeback in Rockies history. Chris Iannetta singled home the winning run off Kevin Gregg in the ninth inning.

Garrett Atkins, who had a career-best five hits, drove in the tying run off Gregg (6-4), who blew his second save in 24 hours.

After Hanley Ramirez’s error on a potential double-play groundball loaded the bases, Iannetta singled to left through a drawn-in infield.

The last time a team came back to win from nine down was Aug. 23, 2006, when Cleveland rallied for a 15-13 victory at Kansas City, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Colorado scored in every inning but the eighth, yet trailed until Atkins’ tying single in the ninth. Taylor Buchholz (3-2) threw one inning for the win, Colorado’s fourth straight.

In the highest-scoring game at Coors Field since the humidor was introduced in 2002, bringing some sanity to mile-high baseball, the Rockies and Marlins combined for 35 runs on 43 hits, 21 of them for extra bases with eight home runs.

The last time two teams combined for this many runs was May 19, 1999, also at Coors Field, when the Cincinnati Reds roughed up the Rockies 24-12.

Francoeur to minors

Slumping Atlanta outfielder Jeff Francoeur was sent to the minors to work on his hitting, with his average having dropped to .234.

Francoeur was booed at home Thursday night when he went 0 for 4. He hit .206 in June and is 1 for 12 in three games this month.

Clearing the bases

San Diego catcher Michael Barrett will require surgery for facial fractures and may be out six weeks. Barrett left Wednesday night’s game at Colorado in the third inning after fouling a ball off his face. … Cleveland closer Joe Borowski, last year’s A.L. saves leader, was designated for assignment. … Cincinnati has pushed back Aaron Harang‘s next start from today to Tuesday because of stiffness in his forearm.