San Diego, CA – Yonder Alonso's single drove in the game- winning run in the bottom of the ninth, as the San Diego Padres downed the Colorado Rockies, 12-11, in the rubber match of a three-game set.
The Padres built a six-run lead with a two-out eight-run rally in the fifth, but their advantage was erased when the Rockies scored six in top of the eighth to even the score at 11.
San Diego used eight different pitchers, seven of which combined to give up 11 runs on 11 hits while walking six. Joe Thatcher (1-4) struck out Jason Giambi and Charlie Blackmon in the top of the ninth to position himself for the win.
Matt Belisle (3-7) pitched 1 1/3 innings and put two runners on before Alonso's base hit brought in the winning run. Colorado, which has only won three times in its last 13 games, surrendered 16 hits and walked six as a pitching staff.
"They scored 12, and nine were with two outs. Those types of situations are very difficult to deal with," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.
Adam Attavino came in to replace Alex White for the Rockies, who were leading 5-3, to start the bottom of the fifth. After loading the bases Attavino was able to get Alexi Amarista to pop out for the second out, but the Padres got four consecutive hits from John Baker, Andy Parrino, Everth Cabrera and Logan Forsythe to plate six runs before Chase Headley hit a two-run homer to cap an eight-run inning for San Diego.
After going scoreless in the sixth and seventh, the Rockies made their move in the top of eighth. Cory Burns gave up a leadoff single to Chris Nelson, who moved to second after Andrew Brown walked. Nelson came around to score when Cabrera made a throwing error after forcing the runner out at second on Matt McBride's ground out. Burns gave up a hit to DJ LeMahieu to put runners on the corners and was replaced by Tommy Layne.
Layne hit Blackmon to load the bases and then issued a walk to Dexter Fowler to plate McBride from third. Nick Vincent replaced Layne and gave up a grand slam to Josh Rutledge to tie the game at 11.
"You can't take anything for granted, no matter what the score is," Padres manager Bud Black said.
Game Notes
Colorado went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position while San Diego went 6-for-16 ... The Padres left 11 runners on base while the Rockies stranded 7 ... There was a total of 14 pitchers used in the game.
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