|
 For a change, the Rockies' pitching was solid, and Colorado beat
the San Diego Padres 2-1.
It was just the second win in nine games for the Rockies, who scored
a mere 12 runs in their seven losses over that stretch. Colorado was
in a 3-18 skid before Tuesday, its pitchers compiling a 6.48 ERA
during that span.
Rockies All-Star right fielder Charlie Blackmon hit a two-run homer
off Padres All-Star right-hander Tyson Ross in the third. That
proved to be enough for left-hander Franklin Morales (5-4) and four
relievers. The Colorado bullpen threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings, with
LaTroy Hawkins pitching the ninth for his 16th save.
Blackmon lifted a 2-2 slider that was not far off the ground into
the right field stands for his 13th home run. It was his first homer
in 90 at-bats since June 12.
"If he didn't swing, it probably would have been a ball," Ross said.
"I threw the pitch that I wanted there with two strikes. He's an
All-Star; he put a good swing on it, and the ball got out." Ross' slider is his best pitch, but Blackmon said that was not what
he was expecting in a 2-2 situation.
"I know he has a good slider," Blackmon said. "I was looking for a
fastball, and that's why I was kind of a little out in front, but I
was able to stay on it. It wasn't a bad pitch by any means."
Padres pinch hitter Seth Smith doubled with two outs in the ninth.
Left fielder Corey Dickerson had the ball as he tried to make a
sprawling catch, only to have the ball slip out as he raised his
glove.
Dickerson fell on his wrist and was examined by trainer Keith Dugger
but stayed in the game. After the brief delay, Hawkins got right
fielder Chris Denorfia to fly out on his next pitch to end the game.
X-rays were negative on Dickerson, who had ice on his wrist after
the game. He said the joint was sore but the strength in his wrist
checked out fine.
Morales worked 5 2/3 innings, leaving after he gave up a homer to
catcher Rene Rivera on his 98th pitch, a blast that cut the Rockies'
lead in half. Morales gave up his third walk to start the inning but
got first baseman Tommy Medica to ground into a double play before
Rivera hit his sixth homer of the season.
Morales, who began the season as the Rockies' fourth starter, has
bounced between the rotation and the bullpen. He returned to the
rotation Thursday, taking the place of injured Jhoulys Chacin.
Rockies right-hander Brooks Brown retired the one batter he faced in
the sixth. Lefty Rex Brothers gave up two singles in the seventh but
ended the inning by getting third baseman Chase Headley to fly out.
[to top of second column] |
Colorado right-hander Adam Ottavino gave up an opposite-field,
broken-bat single to left to pinch hitter Jake Goebbert with one out
in the eighth and threw a wild pitch. However, Ottavino struck out
Rivera and broke second baseman Brooks Conrad's bat as he grounded
out, setting the stage for Hawkins.
The Padres won six of their previous eight games and 11 of their
previous 18. They fell to 17-10 in one-run games. The Rockies
improved to 13-14 in such contests.
Ross (7-9) threw six innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits and
no walks while recording six strikeouts. It was the 13th time in his
past 17 starts that he worked at least six innings. Ross yielded
three homers to left-handed hitters in 217 at-bats this season
before Blackmon connected.
"I felt pretty strong. I had a good rhythm. I was hitting my spots
early in counts," said Ross, who has issued two walks in 29 innings
in his past four starts. "With the exception of the two-run homer, I
think it was a pretty good game. You have to look at what they did
on the other side. (Morales) pitched a great game. He held us to one
run, and that was the difference in the game."
NOTES: The Rockies recalled OF/1B Kyle Parker from Triple-A Colorado
Springs and optioned LHP Yohan Flande to the same club. ... Rockies
RHP Eddie Butler (right shoulder inflammation) threw 58 pitches in
three innings in a simulated game. If he checks out fine Wednesday,
Butler could be sent out on a rehab assignment. ... Rockies LF
Carlos Gonzalez is expected to be activated from the disabled list
Friday. He had a benign tumor removed from his left index finger
June 10, and he played his second game on a rehab assignment Tuesday
with Colorado Springs. ... Padres manager Bud Black said he hopes to
have 2B Jedd Gyorko (left foot plantar fasciitis) back in a couple
weeks. Gyorko, out since early June, is rehabilitating at the
Padres' facility in Peoria, Ariz. ... RHP Tyson Ross is the 10th
starting pitcher in Padres history to be named an All-Star and the
first since RHPs Jake Peavy and Chris Young in 2007.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
