Rockies strike early to crush Brewers

DENVER, July 14 (Reuters) - The Colorado Rockies returned from the All-Star break in impressive style, knocking the

Milwaukee Brewers off the top spot in the National League Central Division with a 12-3 pounding on Thursday.

The Rockies roughed up Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo(notes), chasing him from the mound after he allowed six runs in four innings, and added a late offensive flurry to drop the Brewers (49-44) a half game behind the idle St Louis Cardinals.

Ryan Spilborghs(notes) went 4-for-6 with four RBIs, blasting a homer in the first inning and adding a two-RBI double in the seventh, where Colorado scored four times.

The Rockies (44-48) also scored four runs in the fourth to take a 6-2 advantage and added a run in the sixth on Mark Ellis' RBI double. Ellis finished with three RBIs on the night.

Starter Ubaldo Jimenez tossed six innings and allowed two runs to earn the victory for Colorado, who sit third in the five-team West Division.