Barnes' effort lifts Chatwood as Rox tie Padres

March 19th, 2016

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Projected Rockies regulars Gerardo Parra and Ben Paulsen had two hits apiece, Brandon Barnes went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and starter Tyler Chatwood sustained just one blip over four innings, but Colorado couldn't hold the lead and tied San Diego, 5-5, on Saturday afternoon at Peoria Sports Complex.
Christian Bethancourt drove home Adam Rosales with a two-out single in the ninth inning to knot the ballgame. Bethancourt had brought the Padres within one on an RBI groundout in the seventh.
Box score

Chatwood's four solid frames represented the longest appearance for the right-hander since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014. He allowed three hits and struck out two.
"I felt good," Chatwood said. "The biggest thing was I got better as I went along. The second time through the lineup, I felt sharper, so that's a big thing for me going forward, building the confidence up."

The only runs charged to Chatwood came courtesy of Padres shortstop Jemile Weeks, who continued his torrid spring with a two-run homer in the first. Weeks could very well be playing his way into a utility role on the Padres' roster. He has 12 hits -- five for extra bases -- in 27 at-bats and played a clean shortstop on Saturday.
Right-hander Colin Rea started for San Diego and posted his first rocky outing of the spring. He allowed five runs on nine hits over five innings (after entering the game with a 1.00 ERA). Rea is currently in the mix for one of the Padres' two available rotation spots.
"I thought he was better than his results indicate," said San Diego manager Andy Green. "I didn't think he threw the ball too poorly at all. I think he had really good innings where it was 1-2-3, moving his fastball around. The breaking ball was probably rolling more than it typically does. He left a few up in the zone, kind of paid for those. But overall, I thought his stuff was pretty sharp."
Rea agreed with his skipper's assessment.
"The curveball wasn't very good today," Rea said. "It was just kind of floating up there. But it feels good out of my hand … and I think we mixed it up pretty well."
Rea allowed one run in each of the first three innings -- including Barnes' go-ahead single in the third. Barnes, who is battling for one of Colorado's final roster spots, also scored a run and brought his spring average to .313.
Colorado added to its lead in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Parra and Paulsen before another RBI knock from Barnes.

Melvin Upton Jr. hit an RBI double in the sixth inning and Bethancourt delivered his RBI groundout in the seventh against Rockies reliever Boone Logan, who was making his spring debut. Logan, who has been sidelined with elbow trouble this spring, pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed one hit.

Rockies Up Next: Lefty Jorge De La Rosa has been solid for 6 2/3 innings this spring, with the only runs coming on a homer yielded to his final batter in his past start. De La Rosa, who has six strikeouts, will face the Giants at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Sunday at 1:10 p.m MT. Non-roster lefty Yohan Flande, who has struck out eight in seven Cactus League innings, is also scheduled to pitch.
Padres Up Next: Opening Day starter Tyson Ross is slated to pitch Sunday -- but not during the club's 1:05 p.m. PT game against the Dodgers. With the season opener vs. Los Angeles on the horizon, the Padres have opted to throw him in a Minor League game instead. Robbie Erlin gets the ball in Ross' place, eyeing one of the club's two available rotation spots. A solid performance against a division rival would go a long way for his chances.