(SportsNetwork.com) – The Colorado Rockies attempt to stay on the winning
track Thursday afternoon when they conclude a four-game series with the San
Diego Padres.
The Rockies halted a five-game losing streak with Wednesday night’s 5-4 win
over the Padres. Daniel Descalso drove in the winning run with a pinch-hit
single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Nolan Arenado singled to begin the ninth off Shawn Kelley and raced over to
third two batters later on Michael McKenry’s base hit to center. Kelley walked
DJ LaMahieu to load the bases prior to Descalso poking a single over the head
of left fielder Justin Upton for the winner.
“You know they have a five-man infield, trying to get a ground ball. For me, I
was trying to get a ball up, over the plate so I could drive it to the
outfield,” Descalso said.
Corey Dickerson homered twice in the win, while Arenado and LaMahieu each
knocked in a run.
Yangervis Solarte and Wil Myers went deep for San Diego, which had won three
straight and six of seven. Cory Spangenberg had a run-scoring hit in the
seventh inning that had given the Padres a lead.
“You know Myers hit a big homer, Spangenberg with a big hit, we were in
position to win,” Padres manager Bud Black said.
Tyson Ross gets the start for the Padres this afternoon one day after his 28th
birthday.
The right-handed Ross has sandwiched no-decisions around a win over the San
Francisco Giants on April 12. In a road matchup with the Chicago Cubs on
Saturday, he allowed three runs but on five hits and five walks that forced
him out after 5 2/3 innings. Ross did strike out nine to help himself work out
of trouble in his club’s eventual 7-6 loss.
Ross has never beaten the Rockies, going 0-4 with a 3.16 earned run average in
seven previous meetings, including five starts.
Jordan Lyles aims to rebound from his first setback of the season today for
the Rockies.
Lyles, a 24-year-old righty, is 1-1 with a 3.50 ERA on the season. He picked
up that setback on Saturday at the Los Angeles Dodgers, a 6-3 decisions as
five hits and five walks led to four runs over six innings. Lyles added five
strikeouts as well.
“Jordan battled well. He had some walks he had to work around,” Rockies
manager Walt Weiss said.
Lyles is 1-3 with a 6.30 ERA in six career meetings with the Padres.
The Rockies were 10-9 versus the Padres last season, winning seven of nine at
home.
