Blackmon boosts Rockies in win over Padres
SAN DIEGO -- Charlie Blackmon couldn't have been happier. The Colorado Rockies center fielder was all smiles after figuring prominently in his club's victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.
Blackmon, who was called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Monday, had two hits and drove in a career-tying two runs, and the Rockies earned a 5-4 decision over the Padres before 19,411 fans at Petco Park.
"I'm very thankful that the Rockies got enough faith in me to put me in this position (and) to have an opportunity," said Blackmon, who also robbed the Padres of a run by diving and snagging a sinking liner to center by Mark Kotsay in the sixth. "I'm just blessed to be healthy and be here, and it really feels good to help be a part of a team win."
The Rockies, who took two of three in the series, are 10-3 this season against the Padres, who lost for the 11th time in 12 games.
"Charlie had some big hits and made a really big play," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "Anytime you win a series on the road in the division, it's really big."
Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa worked five-plus innings, allowing two runs on two hits with four walks and four strikeouts. De La Rosa (9-5) pitched four strong innings before struggling in the fifth and sixth. Two of his walks occurred in the fifth, and he issued a pass to Chase Headley in the sixth before Carlos Quentin followed with his 11th home run of the season.
"He was waiting for that pitch," said De La Rosa, who recorded his sixth consecutive win over the Padres covering a span of eight starts. He has a 3-0 mark with 1.88 ERA in four starts at Petco.
Closer Rafael Betancourt gave up a run in the ninth before retiring Quentin for his 13th save.
"We're not beating ourselves. For the most part, we're playing pretty sound baseball," said Headley, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. "We just have to find a way to get over that little hump. A lot of close games, a lot of games where one play could change the game. We have to find a way to start being on top of it."
Padres starter Andrew Cashner (5-5) wasn't sharp, giving up three runs (two earned) on eight hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked two.
The Rockies (44-48) held a 4-0 lead after Jonathan Herrera scored on a single by Blackmon in the sixth. However, San Diego rallied.
Quentin chased De La Rosa by driving a 1-1 pitch over the wall in center for a two-run homer to cut the lead in half with no outs in the sixth.
The Padres (41-51) sliced the lead to 4-3 when Chris Denorfia drove in Everth Cabrera with no outs in the seventh.
Blackmon smoked an eighth-inning triple into the right field corner, scoring pinch hitter Corey Dickerson, to boost Colorado's lead to 5-3.
"That guy throws cutters, so he missed with a cutter," said Blackmon, who also drove in two runs in his season debut at St. Louis on May 12. "I figured maybe he'll throw another one. He threw one in there, and I was able to get some good barrel on it."
Todd Helton drew a leadoff walk in the second inning and scored on Herrera's sacrifice fly, putting the Rockies on top 1-0.
Helton's RBI single with two outs in the third plated DJ LeMahieu for a 2-0 advantage.
In the fifth, the Rockies made it 3-0 when LeMahieu, who reached on an error, scored on a wild pitch.
NOTES: OF Dexter Fowler and SS Troy Tulowitzki will rejoin the Rockies on Thursday in Los Angeles, where the club opens a four-game series with the Dodgers. Fowler, who has been out since June 26 with a bone bruise in his right hand, could be in the lineup Thursday, but Tulowitzki will be re-evaluated, manager Walt Weiss said Wednesday. Tulowitzki has been on the disabled list since June 14 with a fractured rib. ... Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez returned to the lineup after missing two games with an injury to his right middle finger. Gonzalez went 1-for-5... RHP Sean O'Sullivan will be called up from Triple-A Tucson to start for the Padres on Friday against the San Francisco Giants. O'Sullivan has a 7-4 record with a 3.88 ERA in 18 starts with Tucson.
