Four solo shots lift Rockies in humid San Diego
SAN DIEGO -- Daniel Descalso hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning -- one of four Rockies homers on the afternoon -- to give Colorado a 4-3 win against the Padres on Thursday at Petco Park.
Facing San Diego reliever Joaquin Benoit, Descalso's shot to right field on a full-count pitch, which landed a projected 394 feet away from home plate, according to Statcast™, marked his fifth homer of the season and first since Aug. 9 in Washington. It followed dingers by Nolan Arenado, Corey Dickerson and Carlos Gonzalez, marking the third game in franchise history in which Colorado scored all four runs on four home runs.
"We will take four homers, but we would like to get them with guys on base and get some big innings out of them," Descalso said.
Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa allowed three runs on six hits through five innings, while walking three and striking out six batters.
Video: COL@SD: De La Rosa strikes out six over five frames
San Diego's Tyson Ross allowed three homers through six innings after not allowing multiple home runs in 45 straight starts. Thursday marked only the second time in his career that the right-hander allowed three home runs in a game. Ross' streak was the second-longest in franchise history behind Randy Jones.
Video: COL@SD: Ross strikes out six over seven strong frames
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Kemp goes long: Matt Kemp put the Padres on the board in the fourth inning with a homer to right-center field that landed a projected 407 feet away, according to Statcast™. De La Rosa has allowed five home runs to Kemp in his career, more than he has allowed to any other hitter. Kemp has 35 home runs against Colorado, the most among all active players.
Video: COL@SD: Kemp levels the score with a solo home run
AIR-enado: Arenado continues to lead the National League in home runs with 38 this season, as he blasted a 382-foot shot to left field on a 1-0 pitch from Ross in the first inning. Arenado now has eight home runs so far in the month of September, and 20 home runs on the road this season. Gonzalez trails his teammate with 37 homers, as he hit one in the seventh inning to tie the game at 3.
Video: SD@COL: Arenado crushes a solo homer to left field
"I try not to think about [hitting 40 home runs,]," Arenado said. "When I am up there, it never crosses my mind how many homers I have, and I think that's why I have hit as as many as I have this year. I am just trying to hit the ball harder and have many good at-bats. If I hit 40, it will be an amazing accomplishment. We still have a lot of games left. I am just trying to do my job." More >
Put it on the board: The Padres love when Ross pitches because he doesn't give up the long ball. He entered the game leading the Majors by allowing 0.26 home runs per nine innings. But on a humid day in San Diego, the Rockies rocked Ross for three solo home runs, only two fewer than he had surrendered before the first pitch.
Video: COL@SD: CarGo ties the game with a solo homer
"I made mistakes up in the zone and they put good swings on them," Ross said. More >
Blackmon's great grab: With one out in the top of the ninth inning, the Padres' Brett Wallace hit a ball that appeared to be on its way to a game-tying home run. However, Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon read the ball perfectly, jumping up against the wall to make the catch. Closer John Axford then struck out Justin Upton, earning his 21st save of the season.
Video: COL@SD: Blackmon makes a leaping catch at the wall
"Wallace is locked in," manager Walt Weiss said. "He's hitting everything hard. I thought it was a home run off the bat. Charlie made a real nice play. It's a tough play right there. I thought it was gone when he hit it." More >
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
San Diego is known for its mild climate, but not on Thursday. It was 93 degrees at first pitch, the warmest game ever at Petco Park, which hugs San Diego Bay. It was the warmest Padres home game since Aug. 30, 1998, also at 93 degrees, when the team played inland at Qualcomm Stadium.
"We were in Southern California, but it felt like Atlanta," Arenado said.
QUOTABLE
"They hit balls that were up in the zone and over the plate. That tends to happen regardless of the weather." -- Ross on Thursday's humid conditions
WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: The Rox continue their 10-game road trip as they head to the Pacific Northwest to face the Mariners for a three-game series, beginning Friday at 8:10 p.m. MT. Colorado will start Chad Bettis, who will face Seattle for the first time in his career.
Padres:The Friars open a three-game series on Friday in San Francisco, sending right-hander Andrew Cashner (5-14, 4.11 ERA) to the mound for the 7:15 p.m. PT first pitch. Cashner has lost three straight starts and is trying to beat the Giants for the first time this season. He lost to them on May 5, surrendering six runs (four earned) and seven hits in six innings.
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