Walker Gets Advice and Ends his Slump

DENVER —  Andres Galarraga provided Larry Walker with a batting tip before his final at-bat, and the advice was well taken.

Walker emerged from a deep slump with a two-run home run and Vinny Castilla hit his 30th of the season as the Colorado Rockies defeated the New York Mets, 6-2, on Friday.

Walker’s 36th homer matched his career high and ended a 0-for-16 slump, which had matched his season high. He went one for four and his batting average dropped to .376.

“I knew what I was doing wrong, and he pointed it out for me,” Walker said, refusing to disclose what advice Galarraga gave him. “When Cat does badly, I give him advice, and when I’m doing badly, he gives me advice.”

Frank Castillo (9-10) gave up two runs and seven hits in seven innings, improving to 3-1 since he was acquired from the Chicago Cubs on July 15.

Rick Reed (10-6) lost his second consecutive start, giving up three runs and eight hits as the Mets lost for the fifth time in seven games.

Carl Everett went one for four after missing the first three games of the Mets’ trip. He was attending child custody court hearings in New York.

Castilla, who had only four singles in his previous 16 at-bats, hit a two-run home run in the second for his first RBI in eight games.

Colorado added an unearned run in the third when Ellis Burks hit an RBI double following an error by shortstop Rey Ordonez.

“We had some opportunities, but there didn’t seem to be many gaps out there,” New York Manager Bobby Valentine said. “Castillo did a good job of holding us at bay. He pitched well enough to get a win.”

New York failed to score in the third and fourth despite putting two on in each inning, then pulled to 3-2 in the fifth on RBI doubles by Edgardo Alfonzo and John Olerud.

“I kept thinking we’d get a spark and only got stymied,” Valentine said. “Carlos Baerga hit the ball decent and had nothing to show for it.”

NEXT SERIES FOR DODGERS

WHO: New York Mets

WHERE: at New York

WHEN:

Tuesday, 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, 4:30 p.m.