COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- Andre Akpan scored in the sixth minute and the Colorado Rapids escaped the Western Conference basement with a 3-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on Wednesday night.

Tony Cascio and Jaime Castrillon each added a goal for Colorado (9-17-2), which ended a four-game winless streak. The win leapfrogged Colorado past the Timbers and Chivas USA into seventh place in the West.

Akpan scored his first goal of the year in his second start after Cascio was stripped of the ball in the scoring zone. The ball deflected to Akpan, who fired a shot past Donovan Ricketts.

Goalkeeper Matt Pickens earned his seventh shutout, adding to his all-time franchise lead in shutouts (29) and wins (41).

The win avenged a 1-0 loss to the Timbers on Aug. 31.

Portland (7-14-6) had its season-best, two-game winning streak snapped while being shut out for the 11th time. The Timbers have lost all three meetings in Colorado and remain the only team in the league without a road win (0-10-3).

Early in the game, Ricketts denied a scoring attempt by Tyrone Marshall in the first minute with a diving save.

Akpan scored moments later before Portland nearly tied it in the 15th minute, but Darlington Nagbe had his uncontested shot from the slot sail over the crossbar.

Cascio made it 2-0 off a perfectly placed cross from Castrillon in the 27th minute. It was his third of the year.

Pickens didn't have to make a save in the first half. During the second half, Bright Dike missed on an uncontested shot in the 57th for Portland.

Castrillon made it 3-0 with a header off a cross from Drew Moor in the 85th.

Gold medalist swimmer Missy Franklin was one of seven Olympians honored by the Rapids at halftime.