Jordan Lyles, Colorado Rockies Win Coors Field Pitcher’s Duel, 2-1

Corey Dickerson slugged another solo home run Thursday against the Padres. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres met Thursday afternoon in front of nearly 15,000 kids there for the game and Weather & Science Day at Coors Field.

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Jordan Lyles allowed just one run in 6.2 innings pitched, and Corey Dickerson’s fifth inning solo home run proved the difference as the Colorado Rockies won a rare pitcher’s duel in Denver, beating the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Thursday afternoon.

The Rockies loaded the bases in the first thanks to wildness by Padres starter Tyson Ross, and Daniel Descalso drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead. With the bases still loaded, though, Ross retired Rockies starter Jordan Lyles (hitting eighth today) to end the threat.

The Rockies nearly scored in the second on a Troy Tulowitzki blast, but his home run-worthy ball fell harmlessly into Will Venable’s glove on the left field warning track thanks to a brisk breeze blowing in from the outfield.

In the third, the Rockies loaded the bases again, but Lyles once again struck out with them juiced and the club couldn’t convert against Ross. After leaving the bases loaded two times in three innings, Colorado had to settle for a 1-0 lead heading into the fourth.

Lyles got into a jam in the fourth inning, after Matt Kemp legged out an infield single that was nearly an incredible play by DJ LeMahieu, and Yangervis Solarte walked. With two on and two out, Yonder Alonso singled through the left side and Kemp scored easily ahead of a weak throw by Corey Dickerson. Lyles got out of it with no more damage done, and the game slipped into a 1-1 tie.

In the bottom of the fifth, Dickerson mashed another solo home run – his third in two days – to right-center field off Ross. Long fly balls by Nolan Arenado and Drew Stubbs stayed in the park, though, and the Rox took a 2-1 lead to the sixth inning.

A high pitch count and four walks chased Ross after five frames, and Brandon Maurer came on to face the Rockies in his place, throwing clean sixth and seventh innings.

Lyles got two outs in the top half of the seventh before being removed after an Alonso single (he went 3-for-3 against Lyles today), and an Alexi Amarista walk. Scott Oberg entered the game with two on, two outs, and a one-run Rockies lead.

The young Oberg proved Weiss right to trust him, striking out Justin Upton with a hard fastball on the inside corner to strand both runners and keep the Rockies ahead going to the bottom half of the seventh.

With the book closed on Lyles, he went 6.2 innings, allowing six hits and two walks – and just one run – while striking out four hitters on 96 pitches (52 strikes). The outing lowered his season ERA to 2.92, and gave him three quality starts in four outings thus far in 2015.

Rafael Betancourt came on for the eighth inning, and after getting the first two outs immediately, allowed a double to Cory Spangenberg. Kemp came up with a chance to tie the game, or take the lead, but Betancourt induced a pop-up to end the threat and retained the one-run lead for the Rox.

Pinch-hitter Rafael Ynoa slugged a double to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning as the Rockies attempted to get insurance runs off Padres reliever Chris Rearick. Drew Stubbs then sacrificed Ynoa to third base, giving the Rockies two chances to score Ynoa.

Carlos Gonzalez, taking a day off to break his slump, pinch hit and struck out swinging on a sweeping slider way off the plate. After LeMahieu walked, Charlie Blackmon came up with two outs and runners on the corners. Facing Odrisamer Despaigne, Blackmon grounded out harmlessly to end the threat, the Rockies wasted a lead-off double from Ynoa, and John Axford came on in the ninth to close the game.

Axford worked around a lead-off walk and struck out Amarista to end the game.

Corey Dickerson went 2-for-3 with his home run, and a walk, and Nolan Arenado and Nick Hundley each collected two hits, as well. Jordan Lyles (2-1) earned the win for the Rockies, while John Axford picked up his second save.

The Rockies were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position today, and they left 11 men on base. The club is now 9-7 after splitting the series with San Diego.

With the four-game series against San Diego complete, the Rockies next face the San Francisco Giants on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Denver. Game times (all Mountain) are 6:40 pm, 6:10 pm, and 2:10 pm, respectively.