For the third straight day, Hector Sanchez started at catcher.
And for the third consecutive outing, the switch-hitter smashed a home run.
Unfortunately for the Padres, this time Hector’s heroics came in a loss as his team had trouble keeping up with their division opponents in Colorado.
The Rockies tapped out 11 hits and tagged Padres starter Luis Perdomo for seven runs in the first three innings Monday night on their way to a 9-6 win over San Diego.
Padres catcher Austin Hedges sat out again as a precaution after taking a foul ball off his catcher’s mask during Friday’s game.
Manager Andy Green originally had Hedges in the starting lineup Monday but later decided to hold out his starting catcher for at least one more day.
Green added that he hopes to have Hedges back in action later this week.
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His understudy batted cleanup for the second straight day and again Sanchez gave the offense a boost.
San Diego trailed 8-3 in the eighth inning when Sanchez smacked a solo shot to right field to start a late rally.
The 27-year-old from Venezuela had hit a walk-off two-run homer Saturday night against the Giants and then crushed a three-run bomb in the first inning of Sunday’s 7-1 victory over his former team.
This time his home run trot did not give his team the lead, but it did help the Friars climb back into the contest.
Before the eighth inning ended, Jose Pirela scored on a sacrifice fly and Allen Cordoba added a RBI single to cut the deficit to 8-6.
But Colorado added an insurance run before Greg Holland closed the door in the ninth to register the save.
Another bright spot was Jabari Blash who is getting more playing time while everyday right fielder Hunter Renfroe recuperates on the disabled list with a strained neck.
Blash crushed a two-run homer in the second inning to give the Padres a brief 2-1 lead.
But Perdomo faltered in the third inning and Padres manager Andy Green decided to give him a quick hook.
Reliever Craig Stammen entered and tried to put out the fire but Colorado tacked on one more run and took a 7-2 lead into the fourth inning.
Wil Myers usually plays well at Coors Field but he struggled at the plate.
The 2016 All-star struck out four times and finished 0-for-5 with a groundout.
Despite the loss, San Diego has still won 7 of its last 11 ball games.
Rookie Dinelson Lamet is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Rockies.
Colorado counters with Antonio Senzatela.
First pitch is slated for 5:40 p.m. at Coors Field.
