For a few innings it looked like the Padres might get shutout against Colorado.
Or even worse, no-hit by Rockies starter Eddie Butler.
But in a span of three pitches and two swings, Matt Kemp and Brett Wallace jumpstarted the offense and helped lead San Diego to a 6-3 victory.
Trailing 3-0, Kemp crushed the first pitch he saw in the 4th inning to get San Diego on the board.
It was his 8th homer of the season which leads the team.
After a slow start last year, Kemp is batting .301 one month into the 2016 campaign and is in the top ten in the National League with 22 RBI.
Two pitches later, Wallace smashed a solo shot for his first long ball of the year.
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That cut the Rockies deficit to 3-2 and changed the entire complexion of the game. Instead of a no-hit bid after 4 frames, the Rockies starting pitcher was guarding a one-run lead and San Diego had some life.
In the 6th, Wil Myers tied the game with a double to left.
2 batters later, Wallace emerged again from the on-deck circle to crank the go-ahead RBI double to the left-field corner.
Jon Jay scored to make it 4-3 and give the Padres a lead they would hold the rest of the way.
Shortstop Alexei Ramirez added a RBI single and Myers added another RBI to his total with a single later in the 7th to stretch the Padres lead to 6-3.
Andrew Cashner struggled through a dicey first inning and gave up 2 early runs but it could have been much worse.
Colorado loaded the bases with nobody out right out the chute but Cashner was able to limit the damage.
Rockies rookie shortstop Trevor Story added a RBI single in the 2nd to stretch the lead to 3-0. But Colorado’s offense was silenced after that.
Cashner settled down and pitched six innings, seemingly getting stronger as the game went on.
Kevin Quackenbush, Brandon Maurer and Fernando Rodney did their part as well – each pitching a scoreless inning of relief.
Rodney pitched a perfect 9th to nail down his 6th save in as many chances. Sources cannot confirm where his imaginary arrow landed this time after the final out.
Cesar Vargas starts Wednesday afternoon for San Diego opposite Colorado’s Tyler Chatwood. First pitch is set for 12:40 p.m. at Petco Park. Then the New York Mets come to town for a four-game set starting on Thursday.
