Pomeranz keeps Padres grounded

PEORIA, Ariz. -- If the Rockies are serious about their mantra to pitchers about getting ground balls, then Drew Pomeranz's pitching line in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Padres had to make the club take notice.

Pomeranz pitched two innings and gave up one unearned run on two hits. More importantly, six of his six outs came from ground balls.

"We're just trying to keep the ball down," Pomeranz said. "We're all trying to get ground balls. That's one of our big mottos this year, is ground balls. If you keep the ball down, things are going to happen the way you want them to. Let them keep hitting ground balls, that's fine."

The only run scored because of Pomeranz's throwing error on a Will Venable sacrifice bunt. Pomeranz fielded it cleanly, then threw a grounder to first baseman Jordan Pacheco.

"I don't know what I was doing, I just rolled it to him," Pomeranz said. "I guess the Rockies are about ground balls."

The error notwithstanding, Pomeranz felt better in that inning -- his second -- as he began to find his rhythm.

"I just want to keep doing this progression towards the right place," Pomeranz said. "I feel like even though I may be slowly progressing, at least there is a progression towards what I'm looking for."