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 Weiss understated the importance of those moments.
Stubbs homered on the first pitch thrown by Padres reliever Dale
Thayer in the eighth inning, snapping a 2-2 tie and leading the
Rockies a 3-2 victory over San Diego at Petco Park.
However, it took a home run-robbing catch by Barnes in the bottom of
the inning to preserve the win.
"Barnes has a flare for the dramatic," Weiss said of the left
fielder's full-speed, leaping catch at the wall in left to rob
Padres catcher Rene Rivera of a game-tying home run. "He plays the
outfield with a lot of energy."
"Any time a ball is hit to the outfield, I think I can get it," said
Barnes, who finished 2-for-4 and scored a run. "It looked like that
ball was going to hit the top of the wall and bounce out for a
homer. There was only one way to play that. ... I like to have fun."
Rivera said, "I hit it well, good hard contact. I hit it fine.
Barnes made a great catch. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap."
Moments earlier, Stubbs' 375-foot drive to right barely cleared the
wall as Padres right fielder Rymer Liriano crashed into the fence.
Stubbs was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts before he drove a Thayer
fastball to the opposite field.
"Drew might not be having a great game, and he turns it into a good
night with one swing," Weiss said of Stubbs' 15th homer. "He's got a
lot of power."
The result snapped the Padres' five-game winning streak. It was only
San Diego's second loss in nine games on the final homestand of the
season, which ends Wednesday night with the rubber match against
Colorado.
Rockies reliever Juan Nicasio (6-6) picked up the win with a
scoreless inning. Closer LaTroy Hawkins picked up his 23rd save.
Thayer (4-4) took the loss.
The Rockies chased Padres starter Robbie Erlin with single runs in
the third and fourth innings.
Third baseman Rafael Ynoa doubled with one out in the second and
scored on a single by National League batting leader Justin Morneau,
who maintained his two-point lead on Pittsburgh's Josh Harrison
after both went 1-for-4 Tuesday.
An inning later, the Rockies doubled their lead to 2-0 on
consecutive singles by Barnes, shortstop Josh Rutledge and second
baseman DJ LeMahieu, who owns a career .344 batting average against
the Padres.
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Erlin avoided further damage when Colorado pitcher Jorge De La Rosa
bunted into a double play and Ynoa grounded out to short. Erlin
allowed two runs on six hits and two walks over four innings in his
second major league start since straining his elbow in May.
"The Rockies took a lot of close pitches from Robbie," Rivera said.
"He was able to locate the ball down, but they're good hitters.
Robbie did the best he could."
The Padres tied the game with a two-out rally against De La Rosa in
the sixth.
Second baseman Jedd Gyorko opened the inning with a single before De
La Rosa struck out Rivera and first baseman Yasmani Grandal. The
Padres then got consecutive singles from left fielder Tommy Medica,
right fielder Rymer Liriano and shortstop Alexi Amarista, with the
latter two driving in runs.
De La Rosa allowed two runs on seven hits and four walks with seven
strikeouts over six innings.
NOTES: Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado, out since Sept. 15 due to
pneumonia, hopes to play this weekend in Los Angeles. ... Padres RHP
Odrisamer Despaigne tested his strained lat muscle in a bullpen
session Tuesday. He hopes to start in San Francisco on Saturday or
Sunday. ... Padres manager Bud Black said Adam Moore, who is 1-for-6
as a pinch hitter since being called up Sept. 2, likely will catch
RHP Joe Wieland in Wednesday's home finale against the Rockies. ...
RHP Burch Smith, who pitched only 5 1/3 innings for Triple-A El Paso
before being shut down with a flexor tendon strain, was added to the
Padres' Arizona Fall League roster.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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