Padres Fall to Rockies in Extra Innings

On this “May the Fourth” the Padres were hoping the force was with them in the series finale against the Colorado Rockies. Now that we have the Star Wars Day reference out of the way, we can get to the recap of the game. The dark side won in Thursday’s match up as the Rockies took the game and the series with a 3-2 victory over the Padres. Ok, that was the last reference.

Luis Perdomo got the nod for the Padres. The righty had a solid outing and allowed only one run in the game, a season low for him.

In the bottom of the seventh inning the Rockies led 2-0. Friars outfielder Hunter Renfroe changed that when he doubled deep to right center field and scored infielder Yangervis Solarte to put the Padres on the board. That marked Renfroe’s 10th RBI of the season. Solarte kept the momentum going in the bottom of the eighth inning when he grounded into a fielder’s choice and tied the game at two runs apiece.

The midday game felt more like a marathon as it went into extra innings. The game was still tied in the 11th inning. In his first game with the Rockies, catcher Ryan Hanigan reached on an infield single and scored outfielder Ian Desmond. Colorado took the 3-2 lead and left Petco Park with the series win.

We have to a note a scary moment in the ninth inning of this game. San Diego catcher Hector Sanchez was at the plate when the bat slipped out of the hands on a swing and went flying into stands. The bat hit two people seated in the lower rows behind the visitor's dug out. Thankfully, just a few minutes later, one of the injured fans, a woman, could be seen walking up the stairs with a bandage on her head. Both people were taken to the hospital and are expected to recover.

The Padres organization released a statement in response to the incident saying, “We never want to see anybody injured while enjoying a game at Petco Park. The guests who were struck by Hector Sanchez’s bat in the 9th inning have received medical attention and been transported to a local hospital. Both were in good spirits and their injuries do not appear to be serious.”

The team went on to say, “For the privacy of the guests, we cannot offer any further information. Last season, we extended our backstop netting in accordance with Major League Baseball’s recommendations. Any injury at the ballpark warrants evaluation and discussion of current practices.”