ICYMI: Padres Power Past Rockies In 4-2 Win
San Diego Padres 4, Colorado Rockies 2 – F
The San Diego Padres used three home runs to outlast the Rockies in a 4-2 affair. James Shields finally earned his 8th win of the season after not getting a win since June 3rd.
Matt Kemp, Jedd Gyorko, and Justin Upton all homered as the Padres have now won three in a row dating back before the All-Star break.
Kemp launched his ninth home run in the second with two outs, a solo shot to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. After a catchers interference call gave Justin Upton first base, it was Jedd Gyorko’s turn to go yard off of Jorge De La Rosa. The two-run home run was his fourth of the season and extended the Padres’ lead to 3-0.
Kemp and Gyorko both have excellent career numbers agains De La Rosa. Kemp is now 20 for 46 and Gyorko is 13 for 19 career of him.
James Shields went five innings, giving up just one earned on seven hits and striking out six Rockies.
Charlie Blackmon homered off of the Shields to lead off the fifth. His 12th of the year put the Rockies on the board.
With Rockies’ runners on the corners in the fifth, Shields pick off attempt to third didn’t get the runner but Blackmon was taking off to third and the Padres got him in the run down to end the inning.
After Marcos Mateo pitched a flawless sixth inning, Brandon Maurer ran into some trouble in the seventh. After two singles and runners on the corners, Blackmon took off for second but Derek Norris‘ throw went into center field, allowing pinch-hitter Brandon Barnes to score.
But with two outs in the bottom of the eight, Justin Upton crushed a solo home run to extend the Padres lead to 4-2.
Craig Kimbrel came in for the save in the ninth and converted his 24th save of the season in 25 attempts.
After all the trade rumors that have floating around the Padres organization during the All-Star break, it’s good to see them put together a solid win on the first game back.
Justin Upton, the Padres only All-Star, came out and backed the current Padres team hoping to not be dealt before the Trade Deadline. He stated “I really like the guys, and I like the clubhouse. We still have some time to change the minds of the front office. In a perfect world, we play well over the next two or three weeks and A.J. pumps the brakes on dismantling the team.”
Hopefully the Padres can make a run at the division in the next couple weeks and avoid trading away some fan favorites and continue to compete.
We just got to keep the faith.
On Deck:
First Pitch – 5:40 pm PT
Tyson Ross (6-7, 3.34 ERA) will look to continue his better play towards the end of the first half of the season on Saturday. He got the W in his last start before the All-Star game in Texas.
Chad Bettis (5-4, 4.91 ERA) will get the start for the visiting Rockies in only his second career start.
Nick was born and raised in San Diego where he became a Chargers and Padres fan, attending numerous home games throughout the years with his dad. He then went on to attend college at the University of Arizona. There he earned his degree in marketing and now lives in San Francisco where he dreams of the the sunny beaches of San Diego. Bear Down.