Rockies fall to Padres, Lose Fifth Straight

The good news for the Rockies was a starting pitcher lasted into the seventh inning and pitched a quality start for the first time in almost a week, the bad news was the offense only supplied one run of support. Alex White pitched well going 6 1/3 innings allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks and 5 strikeouts, throwing 90 pitches, 51 strikes, while getting 9 ground ball outs. It looked like White might have to leave the game in the fifth after a come backer off the bat of Cameron Maybin hit him in the ankle, but White remained in the game after being checked out by Rockies trainers.

The Rockies opened the scoring with a two out RBI single from Todd Helton, scoring Jordan Pacheco who had doubled earlier in the inning. That would be it for Colorado scoring as the Rockies left 11 men on base, going 2-8 with runners in scoring position.

San Diego matched the Rockies first inning run with one of their own, Will Venable opened the inning with a triple, and after a ground out to third and a strikeout Yonder Alonso would drive in Venable with a two out single of his own. The Padres would take advantage of Alex White walking Jason Bartlett, who entered the game hitting .141, to lead of the 5th. Suppan would help himself bunting Bartlett to second, followed by a Venable double to score the run and given the Padres a lead they would not give back.

White would leave with one out in the seventh after walking John Baker and giving up a single to pinch hitter Chris Denorfia. Matt Reynolds came in to strike out Venable, followed by Esmil Rogers walking the bases loaded and then striking out Chase Headley with a slider down and in on a 3-2 count.

The Padres plated an insurance run on a RBI triple by Orlando Hudson, scoring Alonso who reached on a lead-off walk by Rogers. Dale Thayer would close the game out by striking out Carlos Gonzalez with two runners on base.

Jeff Suppan would end up with the win pitching 5 innings and improving to 2-0 on the season. Alex White gets the hard luck loss in his 2012 debut. The loss drops the Rockies to 12-17 and they now sit at a season worst five games under .500 and have fallen to 6.5 games behind the division leading Dodgers.