Wallace gives Padres walk-off win over Rox
SAN DIEGO -- The Padres earned a 2-1 walk-off win over the Rockies on Tuesday night when pinch-hitter Brett Wallace drove in Cory Spangenberg with the winning run on a fielder's choice at Petco Park.
"Credit Wallace. That is a tough assignment for Wallace sitting on the bench all night," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Coming on to face [Boone] Logan in that situation. I think he threw him a fastball right there. And he hit it hard enough to get the job done."
Spangenberg doubled to start the inning, moved to third base on a bunt by Clint Barmes and scored when Wallace hit a ball to shortstop Jose Reyes, who threw home late.
San Diego rookie Colin Rea, who was making his sixth career start, tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four. He was in line to win before closer Craig Kimbrel allowed a two-out home run to Nolan Arenado in the ninth inning to tie the score.
Colorado rookie pitcher Jon Gray didn't factor in the decision but pitched well, allowing two hits over five scoreless innings with six strikeouts.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Where there's a Wil: Myers had just two hits in his first 15 at-bats since coming off the disabled list on Sept. 4, before he launched a fastball from Rockies reliever Gonzalez Germen for a home run to start the sixth inning, sending it well over the fence in left field for a 1-0 lead. For Myers, it was his first home run since May 8.
"I feel good, my timing feels good, my swing feels good," said Myers, who has missed 98 games this season because of a wrist injury. "I'm trying to find a consistent approach with each at-bat. That's what makes a good hitter. I'm just happy to be back. It's been a long road, a tough road."
Video: COL@SD: Myers drills solo shot to break scoreless tie
LeMahieu Leap: Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu made a nice play in the sixth inning as Yangervis Solarte hit what looked like a potential single heading into right field. LeMahieu leaped to grab the line drive, which left the bat going 96 mph, according to Statcast™.
Video: COL@SD: LeMahieu makes leaping grab to rob Solarte
Running down a screamer: Rea's fine outing was nearly ruined when he allowed a long fly ball to the gap in left-center field off the bat of Ben Paulsen with two outs in the seventh inning. But speedy center fielder Travis Jankowski made a nice running catch just in front of the wall to end the inning and preserve the shutout.
Video: COL@SD: Jankowski makes a running catch in the 7th
AIR-enado: Arenado hit his 37th home run of the season, blasting a 375-foot homer to left field off Kimbrel with two outs in the ninth to tie the game at 1. Arenado, who homered in a career-high six consecutive games Sept. 1-5, leads the National League in home runs. His 19 home runs on the road is the most by a Rockies player since Vinny Castilla in 2004.
"Big time -- he does it often, whether it's on the defensive side or with an at-bat, it's a big-time play," Weiss said.
QUOTABLE
"Craig didn't put the pitch where he wanted to. Nolan had that look in his eye coming to the plate, and he got a pitch to hit. In my mind, Craig's the best closer that I've seen. The credit goes to Nolan for putting a great swing on that pitch." -- Murphy on Arenado's game-tying home run
"Seven innings of shutout against that lineup, however you slice it, only two hits, it's a remarkable pitching performance. All rookie pitchers go through the ups and downs, but this kid just continues to get better and better." -- Murphy on Rea More >
Video: COL@SD: Murphy on walk-off win over Rockies
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
With his sixth-inning single Tuesday, Matt Kemp extended his on-base streak to 28 consecutive games -- the longest such streak in the National League this season. In doing so, Kemp tied Chase Headley (Aug. 20 to Sept. 21, 2012) for the longest streak in club history.
Video: COL@SD: Kemp singles to extend on-base streak
WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies:The Rockies will send Chris Rusin to the mound for the 7:10 p.m. MT game. Rusin threw a complete game in his last start, allowing six hits and three runs against the Giants on Sept. 3. The lefty last faced San Diego on Aug. 26 at Coors Field, and threw a shutout, allowing just five hits.
Padres: James Shields (10-6, 3.83) gets the start in the third game of a four-game series on Wednesday. This will be his fourth start against the Rockies this season. He allowed one earned run in five innings in a victory over Colorado on July 17.
Watch every out-of-market regular season game live on MLB.TV.