Fowler's fourth hit is a game-winner for Rockies

DENVER -- Dexter Fowler's fourth hit of the game was his biggest Sunday. His 10th-inning single gave the Colorado Rockies an 8-7 win over the San Diego Padres.

The Rockies blew an early four-run lead, tied the game with a three-run ninth, then ultimately earned their sixth walk-off win of the season.

Tyson Ross (0-3) walked Todd Helton to open the 10th. With one out, Jonathan Herrera singled, and DJ LeMahieu pinch-ran for Helton at second base. Side-arming left-hander Joe Thatcher relieved Ross and got Tyler Colvin to hit into a 3-6 fielder's choice that moved LeMahieu to third.

Fowler followed with his game-winning hit.

"Thatcher, with that low arm slot, I've faced him a lot of times, and you've just got to look for something up" said Fowler, who had his fourth career walk-off hit and second this season.

The Padres withstood 5 1/3 perfect innings from Juan Nicasio. After scoring twice in the sixth to cut the deficit to 4-2, San Diego stunned the Rockies and reliever Edgmer Escalona in the seventh.

With one out, Cameron Maybin hit his first home run of the season. After a single by Nick Hundley, who ended Nicasio's perfect run with a home run in the sixth, pinch hitter Mark Kotsay drove a two-run homer just over the center field wall beyond Fowler's outstretched glove to give the Padres a 5-4 lead.

San Diego tacked on two runs in the eighth against Matt Belisle, who had made 11 straight scoreless appearances totaling 12 innings. Will Venable knocked in a run with a triple and scored on Chris Denorfia's single.

"We kept adding on," Padres manager Bud Black said, "and it looked like we were in a pretty good position. But in this park, you never know."

Pinch hitter Colvin singled home a run with one out in the ninth off Luke Gregerson and took third on Fowler's single. He stole second base as Eric Young Jr. was in the process of striking out. Carlos Gonzalez, who was 0-for-4 to that point without hitting the ball out of the infield, lined a 0-2 pitch to right for a game-tying, two-run double.

"I knew he was going to throw me sliders," Gonzalez said. "I was trying to make sure if I was going to swing, make it come up. Don't swing at a ball in the dirt; that's what I did on the first one and I rolled over (it) foul down the first base line. Then he threw me a good one on the outside corner. I tried to stay patient and just let the ball get deep. It was a perfect pitch to drive to right field and tie the game."

After Nicasio retired Jesus Guzman to begin the sixth, his start took a downward turn. Hundley, who had been hitless in his previous 14 at-bats, drove a 2-2 slider into the left field stands, his fourth homer of the season. The home run came after catcher Yorvit Torrealba pointed to the dirt after signaling for the slider down.

"I hung it," Nicasio said. "I didn't think about a no-hitter, only that I missed (with) the pitch. (If) I throw a slider in the dirt, he strikes out."

Nicasio then yielded three consecutive singles, the last by Alexi Amarista that cut the Rockies' lead to 4-2. Nicasio pitched a season-high six innings for the fifth time in 13 starts and reached a season high with seven strikeouts, six of them swinging.

"Nicasio was throwing great," Black said. "He came out firing with the fastball, and the third, fourth and fifth innings started mixing in the slider and some secondary pitches."

Rockies manager Walt Weiss said, "It's as good as I've seen Juan this year. He was at the bottom of the zone with his good fastball. He threw some good changeups. That sixth inning, he got some balls up."

Troy Tulowitzki hit a two-run homer in the first, his 16th of the season. The Rockies added two more in the third when Fowler led off with a double and came home on Gonzalez's groundout. Tulowitzki walked with two outs and scored on Noaln Arenado's triple.

"It's very important to get that win and tie the (four-game) series," Gonzalez said. "You don't want to lose the series at home, especially to a team that's in the (same) division."

Rex Brothers (2-0) pitched a scoreless 10th inning for the win.

NOTES: Kotsay's pinch-hit home run was the sixth of his career. ... Escalona has been dealing with right triceps soreness for about 10 days and will undergo a precautionary MRI exam Monday. He was supposed to pitch two innings but left after retiring one of the four batters he faced and allowing two homers and three runs. ... Padres RHP Huston Street will throw simulated games Monday and Wednesday and do fielding drills the latter day. The San Diego closer is on the 15-day disabled list with a left calf strain and expects to be activated Friday when he is eligible return. ... Padres SS Everth Cabrera hit a single in the sixth, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games. ... Rockies RF Michael Cuddyer was not in the lineup for the third straight game with a left rib cage strain he suffered while stumbling over first base Thursday. Manager Walt Weiss said the team remains confident Cuddyer won't have to be placed on the 15-day DL. Weiss also said that RHP Tyler Chatwood should be able to avoid the disabled list. Chatwood came out of a start June 3 with a right triceps strain that caused him to miss his scheduled start Saturday. He's scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday and possibly face hitters. Chatwood could return to the rotation Friday against Philadelphia. ... Padres 3B Chase Headley was not in the lineup. Since May 8, he has gone 18-for-108 (.167) with two doubles, two homers and eight RBIs. During that stretch, he has gone a career-high 19 straight games without a multi-hit game. Headley entered the game in the bottom of the 10th after 2B Jedd Gyroko felt a cramp in his right groin just before sliding into second base, where he was out on fielder's choice.