By ,
Published August 16, 2015
DENVER (AP) Chris Rusin pitched a five-hitter for his first career complete game, Carlos Gonzalez homered and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 4-0 on Sunday to snap a six-game losing streak.
It was the first complete game by a Rockies pitcher since Tyler Matzek blanked the Padres on Sept. 5, 2014. Rusin (4-5), who won for the first time since June 21 against Milwaukee, threw 106 pitches. He retired the final 10 batters and struck out Justin Upton and Jedd Gyorko to end it.
The left-hander walked one and also singled and scored in the eighth inning.
San Diego starter Ian Kennedy (7-11) was nearly as effective as Rusin before faltering in the seventh. He retired the first 11 batters before Gonzalez hit a 1-0 fastball over the center-field wall in the bottom of the fourth to give Colorado a 1-0 lead. It was Gonzalez's 27th of the season and 23rd since June 1.
The Padres thought they tied it in the top of the sixth. Rusin retired the first two batters and then allowed two singles and a four-pitch walk. Before his first offering to Gyorko with the bases loaded, second base umpire Lance Barrett called a balk, allowing the runners to advance a base.
The umpires had a conference near third base and reversed the call, bringing out manager Pat Murphy. After arguing his case he was ejected by third base umpire Dan Iassogna.
Rusin then got Gyorko to ground out to end the inning with Colorado still leading 1-0. San Diego didn't get another baserunner.
The Rockies blew it open in the seventh after first baseman Derek Norris dropped Nolan Arenado's bases-empty popup with two outs. Ben Paulsen doubled to left, DJ LeMahieu was intentionally walked and Michael McKenry hit a bases-clearing double to right-center to make it 4-0.
TRAINER'S ROOM:
Padres: INF Yonder Alonso was not in the starting lineup but Murphy said he was fine after taking a helmet off the head in the dugout Saturday night. Upton, who was upset after getting tagged in a rundown in the eighth inning, slammed his batting helmet to the floor and it bounced up and hit Alonso in the head. Alonso was checked by Rockies doctors and found to have no concussion symptoms.
Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis is expected to make another rehab start after throwing 3 1-3 scoreless innings at Double-A New Britain on Saturday. Bettis has been on the disabled list since mid-July with right elbow inflammation.
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP Colin Rea (1-0, 5.40) opens a three-game series against Atlanta on Monday. San Diego is in the midst of playing 12 of 15 games at home.
Rockies: RHP David Hale is expected to be activated to open a three-game series against Washington on Tuesday. Hale has been on the 15-day DL with a groin strain since July 10.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/rusin-tosses-complete-game-as-rockies-beat-padres-5-0