Gyorko's blast leads Padres to 2-1 win over Rockies

SAN DIEGO -- Jedd Gyorko knew what to expect.

"Fastball away," Gyorko said.

Gyorko jumped on a Matt Belisle fastball away -- the first pitch of the eighth inning thrown by the reliever -- and drove it into the right field bleachers for the game-winning home run as the San Diego Padres edged the Colorado Rockies 2-1 Saturday night at Petco Park.

"I've had a number of bats against him this year and he started me with that fastball away a lot of times," said Gyorko, who leads Major League rookies with 17 home runs and 41 extra-base hits. "I was shifting out over the plate. Off the bat, I wasn't sure it was going out. But the wind gave me a little help at the end."

Huston Street gave a leadoff single in the ninth to Michael Cuddyer before recording his 28th save to seal the decision for the Padres (64-77), who won for the fourth time in the past five games.

The Rockies (66-77) have lost four of their last five.

Street forced Todd Helton, who homered off him Friday night, to fly out to left before retiring Nolan Arenado on a fly to center. Centerfielder Alexi Amarista doubled off Cuddyer at first to end the game.

Luke Gregerson (6-7) allowed a run (unearned) and two hits in one inning. But the Padres got a big boost from starter Tyson Ross, who blanked the Rockies for seven innings on three hits but didn't factor in the decision.

Ross, who struck out a career-high 10 in five innings in a no-decision Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, struck out five and walked two on 105 pitches (66 strikes) before giving away to Gregerson in the eighth.

Since rejoining the rotation on July 23, Ross has posted a 2.16 ERA and limited opponents to a .189 batting average in 58 1/3 innings.

"Dominant. Seven innings and no runs, you can't ask for more than that," Gyorko said.

Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki also was impressed.

"He's gotten better," said Tulowitzki, who went 1-for-3 with a walk. "He's made some adjustments. Slider has been a plus pitch for him. And he's throwing the fastball on both sides of the plate. He has very good stuff."

Colorado manager Walt Weiss was even more blunt.

"He carved us up," Weiss said.

Still, the Rockies had a chance to win. Charlie Culberson, who came in as a pinch-runner in the eighth after Ryan Wheeler reached on a fielder's choice, tied the score at 1 with two outs in the eighth on a single to left by DJ LeMahieu.

Left fielder Chris Denorfia's throw arrived in time to get Culberson at the plate, but Padres catcher Nick Hundley dropped the ball on the tag.

But with LeMahieu at third, Gregerson fanned Tulowitzki to end the inning.

Gyorko didn't waste any time delivering in the bottom of the inning.

"Exciting baseball, that's for sure," Gyorko said of the past two wins over the Rockies. "Any time you get good pitching the way we have the last two nights you have a chance to win."

Colorado starter Tyler Chatwood also had a good outing. Chatwood allowed a run and five hits in six innings before being lifted for Manny Corpas in the seventh. Chatwood walked two, struck out two and threw a wild pitch.

Amarista lined a comebacker to Chatwood, who got a glove on it but was unable to field it with two outs in the first, allowing Amarista to beat it out for an infield single that scored Denorfia for a 1-0 Padres lead.

NOTES: Rockies OF Dexter Fowler did not play Saturday after re-aggravating his left knee in Friday's loss to the Padres. Fowler hurt himself stealing second in the fifth inning. Fowler's status is day to day. ... Rockies LF Corey Dickerson returned to the starting lineup. Dickerson, who hadn't started since Sunday, has been hampered by tendinitis in his left knee. ... Padres CF Cameron Maybin had successful surgery on his right wrist on Friday, according to the club. Maybin, who played in only 14 games this season, is expected to be ready for spring training next year. ... Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (0-3, 5.45) will face Padres RHP Ian Kennedy (6-9, 4.96) in the series finale on Sunday. ... The Eastlake All-Stars, who finished runner-up to Japan and won the U.S. championship at the recent Little League World Series, was honored before the game. The team is from nearby Chula Vista.