Rockies 14, Padres 2
DENVER - When Edinson Volquez faces Colorado, it historically has been a one-sided matchup favoring the Rockies. They have feasted on the San Diego Padres' starter, particularly at Coors Field.
The latest thrashing occurred Monday night when the Rockies pounced on Volquez early and pounded the Padres 14-2.
It was the Rockies' most lopsided win of the season and their fourth straight victory. The Rockies last won four consecutive games during their season-high eight-game winning streak April 12-20.
Volquez (8-10) gave up five runs in the first two innings and left after 4 1/3 innings. He yielded nine hits and eight runs, three of which were charged to him after he departed.
In five starts against the Rockies this season, all of which the Padres have lost, Volquez is 0-4 with a 13.08 ERA (31 earned runs, 21 1/3 innings). In his 12 career starts against Colorado, Volquez is 3-7 with a 7.71 ERA. Lifetime at Coors Field, he is 1-4 with an 8.39 ERA in seven starts.
Jhoulys Chacin (11-5) tied his career-high in wins. He went 11-14 in 2011.
Chacin kept the Padres scoreless until Jeff Decker homered with two out in the seventh. It was Decker's first major league hit and came on his seventh career at-bat. It was just the fifth homer off Chacin in 150 innings this season.
Chacin has allowed three or fewer runs in seven straight starts. He gave up five hits in eight innings, lowered his ERA to 3.18 and did not face a batter with a runner in scoring position after the second inning.
Rain began falling in the third inning and finally halted play after Chacin retired the side in order in the eighth. When play resumed after a 63-minute delay, the Rockies scored six runs on seven hits off Colt Hynes to complete the rout.
Jeff Francis pitched the ninth and gave up Jedd Gyorko's 11th homer of the season.
The Rockies jumped on Volquez early, scoring five runs in the first two innings.
Wilin Rosario singled home two runs in the first, which began when Dexter Fowler singled and Corey Dickerson doubled. DJ LeMahieu, who had gone 158 at-bats without a home run, led off the second with his second homer of the season.
Fowler drew a one-out walk and scored on Dickerson's double. He took third on a wild pitch and scored when third baseman Chase Headley committed an error to make it 5-0.
Volquez walked LeMahieu, the final batter he faced, to load the bases, and Sean O'Sullivan allowed all three runners to score. Chacin hit a sacrifice fly and Fowler singled home two runs to boost the Rockies' lead to 8-0.
NOTES: Rockies RHP Rafael Betancourt, who underwent an appendectomy July 19, threw 33 pitches in two innings during a simulated game. He is scheduled to pitch one inning Thursday for Triple-A Colorado Springs on a rehab assignment. Barring a setback, Betancourt would fly Friday to Baltimore to rejoin the Rockies and could be activated Saturday. He's 15-for-16 in save situations this year. ... Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado extended his career-high hitting streak to nine games with a single in the first inning. ... Rockies RF Michael Cuddyer was sick for the second day and not at Coors Field. ... Padres OF Kyle Blanks, on the disabled list since mid-July due to a left Achilles injury, is scheduled to run on grass Thursday when the team returns home. He has been hitting and throwing as well as running on an elliptical machine. ... San Diego C Nick Hundley, whose wife was due to deliver their first child, will take a one- to three-day paternity leave. The Padres will call up a catcher from the minors.
