Helton Reaches .400, Then Falls

DENVER (AP) â€” Todd Helton reached the .400 mark with two singles, then fell back two points Monday night in the Colorado Rockies' 7-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves. <br><br>After his soft single to

Tuesday, August 22nd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DENVER (AP) â€” Todd Helton reached the .400 mark with two singles, then fell back two points Monday night in the Colorado Rockies' 7-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

After his soft single to center off Kevin Millwood in the sixth inning, Helton's average was an even .400. He is the first person since George Brett to reach that mark this late in the season.

Helton struck out against reliever Mike Remlinger in the eighth, dropping him to .399, then hit a game-ending grounder to first against John Rocker in the ninth, losing another point.

Brett was hitting above .400 on Sept. 4, 1980. Helton already has surpassed the 502 plate appearances needed to qualify for the batting title.

Helton has captured the nation's attention on the strength of an impressive August. With two hits in five at-bats Monday night, he was 27-for-47 (.574) during a 13-game hitting streak.