Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) – Corey Dickerson’s third home run in two days
lifted the Colorado Rockies to a 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres Thursday to
split a four-game series.
After Dickerson went deep twice in Colorado’s Wednesday win over San Diego,
his solo home run off Tyson Ross proved to be the difference.
Ross (1-1) struck out seven and only yielded two runs in five innings, but he
allowed six hits and issued four walks, including three in the first inning
that led to the Rockies’ first run.
Rockies starter Jordan Lyles (2-1) was solid, allowing just one run on six
hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings with four strikeouts, and John Axford
recorded his second save.
Ross recorded two quick outs to open the game before the first inning
went south, starting with a walk to Dickerson. Nolan Arenado followed
with an infield single, and Ross then walked Nick Hundley and Daniel Descalso
to force in a run.
The Padres evened the game with a two-out rally of their own in the fourth.
Matt Kemp started it when he beat out an infield single, and he moved into
scoring position when Yangervis Solarte drew a walk. Yonder Alonso singled to
left, and Kemp easily beat the throw home to tie the game.
Colorado retook the lead in the fifth when Dickerson jumped on Ross’ first
pitch and hit his fifth home run of the season.
The Padres had their best chance to tie the game in the seventh. They sent
Justin Upton to the plate to pinch hit for Wil Nieves with two outs and two
runners on base, but reliever Scott Oberg got him swinging to end the inning
Rafael Ynoa led off the eighth with a pinch-hit double in a bid to give the
Rockies some insurance. Drew Stubbs bunted him to third to give Carlos
Gonzalez a chance to drive in a run, but Chris Rearick got him swinging for
the second out. Odrisamer Despaigne replaced Rearick and walked DJ Lemahieu
before getting Charlie Blackmon to ground out to end the inning.
Axford was summoned to get the save and started the ninth by getting
Solarte to ground out. He then walked Alonso on four pitches,
but Will Venable and Alexi Amarista struck out to end the game.
Game Notes
San Diego had homered in 10 straight games … Alonso had three of San Diego’s
seven hits … Dickerson, Arenado and Hundley had two hits apiece for Colorado
… Each team returns to the field Friday with San Diego hosting Los Angeles
for three and Colorado taking on San Francisco in a three-game series.
