Colorado Rockies Salvage Sunday Game Behind Chris Rusin’s Incredible Start

Aug 16, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher

Chris Rusin

(52) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres played their getaway day game Sunday afternoon at Coors Field, the final series match-up for this the NL West rivalry.

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The Colorado Rockies relied on an incredible start from Chris Rusin, and the offense was there for just enough, as the home club salvaged a win in the series and defeated the San Diego Padres 5-0 on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field in Denver.

Both Ian Kennedy and Chris Rusin started off the game well, firing off scoreless frames for the Padres and Rockies, respectively, and by the fourth inning the game had become a 0-0 pitcher’s duel between the two on getaway day.

That all changed in the bottom of the fourth, though, as Carlos Gonzalez crushed a two-out pitch from Kennedy for a home run, giving the Rockies and Rusin a 1-0 lead to work with against San Diego.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Rockies would mount the rally that would eventually chase Kennedy, when Michael McKenry doubled with the bases loaded and emptied them, scoring all three Rockies and finally giving Chris Rusin a little bit of insurance in what quickly became a 4-0 game.

Rubin went into the eighth inning having allowed just five singles and a walk on only 84 pitches, and promptly had a perfect eighth inning, which allowed him to hit for himself in the bottom half of the frame and start the ninth on the mound, going for the complete game shutout.

In the bottom of the eighth, Rusin singled and then eventually scored on a single from Jose Reyes, to further give the Rockies some insurance against San Diego, making the game 5-0.

In the ninth, Rusin went through the Padres lineup again easily, and earned himself the Rockies’ first complete game shut out of the season. .

The Rockies will enjoy Monday off, before hosting the Washington Nationals for three games beginning Tuesday, and then facing off with the New York Mets for three more over next weekend at Coors Field in Denver.

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