Four Homers, Strong Bullpen Lift Colorado Rockies To 4-3 Win In San Diego

Aug 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder C. Gonzalez (5) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring a run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres got together for the final match-up of their four-game series from San Diego’s Petco Park on Thursday afternoon.

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The Colorado Rockies rode four solo homers, including blasts from Nolan Arenado and Carlos Gonzalez, to a one-run come-from-behind victory on Thursday afternoon in San Diego, winning 4-3 and splitting the four-game series with the host Padres.

The Rockies kicked off the scoring in the top of the first inning with two outs, when Nolan Arenado hit a solo home run off Tyson Ross to make the game 1-0. In fact, home runs would be the fact of life for Ross today; in 29 starts entering the game, Tyson had allowed just five homers. On Thursday, he’d allow three solo shots.

Before the Colorado Rockies could get those, though, Jorge De La Rosa took the mound for Colorado, and cruised through his first three innings. He ran into trouble in the fourth and fifth, though, loading the bases both innings. But fortunately for him, the Padres only got one run from each bases loaded situation (their third run off De La Rosa came on a solo home run from Matt Kemp).

De La Rosa was done after five innings, allowing the three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six. Despite leaving with a 3-1 deficit, he’d earn a no-decision, though.

The Rockies got a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning off the bat of Corey Dickerson to make it 3-2, and after a scoreless bottom of the sixth from Scott Oberg, the club got another solo home run in the top of the seventh inning — this one off the bat of Carlos Gonzalez — to tie the game at three runs apiece.

Justin Miller struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh, giving him seven strikeouts in seven batters faced in this Padres series. The Bakersfield, California native must like pitching in the golden state; either way, he’s certainly giving Colorado Rockies fans a teaser for what could be a key bullpen role next season.

The Rockies set him up for a win in relief in the top of the eighth, when Daniel Descalso homered off Padres’ reliever Joaquin Benoit. The solo shot — the Rockies’ fourth of the game — gave Colorado a one-run lead to work with, and Jairo Diaz threw a scoreless bottom of the eighth to pick up a hold and retain the close lead.

John Axford came on for the ninth inning, and with one out, Brett Wallace hit a ball deep to center field that would’ve tied the game — only Colorado Rockies’ center fielder Charlie Blackmon leapt at the wall to catch the ball, prevent the homer, and save the game for Axford.

The Colorado Rockies only got five hits in the game; four solo home runs, and a second inning bloop single from Cristhian Adames. Nevertheless, they found a way to win, and the bullpen was particularly strong with four scoreless innings. Justin Miller (2-2) took the win in relief, and Rockies’ pitching struck out 14 Padres on the afternoon.

The Colorado Rockies now head to Seattle for three games against the Mariners beginning Friday night, and then return to southern California for three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning Monday.

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