Denorfia and Cashner Lead Padres to Victory Over Rockies
Sep 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Chris Denorfia (13) drives in a run with a sacrifice fly ball against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Following a night when the Padres blew opportunities , they came back strong on Wednesday defeating the Colorado Rockies 4-2. The team got another solid pitching performance by Andrew Cashner and timely hitting from Chris Denorfia in front of a crowd of just over 17,000.
Cashner was once again solid in his outing going 7 1/3 and striking out five before being pulled for Joaquin Benoit in the top of the eighth. Although not as dominate as he was against the Tigers, he was proficient and steady throughout the course of the game. He continues to show in his first four starts why he is one of the premiere pitchers. It only validates why the Padres swapped him straight up from the Cubs for Anthony Rizzo back in 2012.
Despite allowing nine hits and a homerun to Justin Morneau, Cashner stepped up as an ace should to pitch out jams with runners on base. In one of the bigger threats of the game, the Rockies got consecutive singles that put runners on first and second with one out. However, Cashner got Michael Cuddyer to line out hard to Yonder Alonso and struck out Carlos Gonzalez to end threat in the top of the fifth
Denorfia would help out at the plate delivering an RBI double in the fifth and another with a single in the seventh. Both at bats sharply contrasted the ones from the previous night when the Padres were swinging at the first pitch in critical times during the game. Denorfia’s patience led to a wild pitch scoring Alexi Amarista and then knocking home Everth Cabrera with his double.
Closer Huston Street notched his fifth save of the season. The Padres have taken two out of three in the series and they have the opportunity to win their second consecutive series tomorrow afternoon when right-hander Ian Kennedy takes the mound against Rockies Franklin Morales.