Stults Great Start Goes for Naught; Padres lose 3-1

June 1, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher

(41) throws during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching ruled the day tonight at Coors field. The two lefties, Eric Stults and Jorge De La Rosa, were entrenched in a duel that the Padres fell on the wrong end of.

Neither offense could get anything going early with 22 outs recorded before Drew Stubbs double in the bottom of the 4th. The Padres would have to wait a bit longer when Chris Denorfia ended De La Rosa’s no hit bid with a lead off triple in the 7th.

Despite getting saddled with the loss, Stults pitched one of his best games of the season. He lasted 6 2/3 innings, the longest he’s pitched all year, allowing just 2 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits and just 1 walk.

However, things started unraveling for Stults in the 5th. A two  out double put runners at second and third, but lucky for Stults the pitcher, De La Rosa, came to the plate. First pitch swinging, he rolled one right to Jedd Gyorko, but the Padres second baseman couldn’t handle the grounder letting the run score and putting the Padres down 1-0. The Rockies would tack on 2 more insurance runs in the 7th and 8th innings.

The Padres weren’t without their own chances. Even though the bats were dead through the first 6 innings the 7th, 8th and 9th all provided some quality chances. Denorfia led off the 7th with a triple but was unable to score  when the next hitter grounded out, lined out, and a popped out.

The next inning started with two  quick outs, but a walk and a single gave the Padres some life. Unfortunately Yasmani Grandal couldn’t get the bat off his shoulder and struck out to end the inning.

Finally, in the 9th, it looked like the another comeback. Denorfia doubled to get things going. Headley knocked him in and Quentin would singled. Tying run was on first with just one out but a pop out and a strikeout ended the late rally and the game.

It was a tough loss for the Padres. Stults finally seems to be rounding out into form, but the bats couldn’t support him tonight. They’ll look to bounce back tomorrow with Robbie Erlin (2-4, 4.22 ERA) on the mound against Jordan Lyles (5-0, 2.66 ERA). Maybe the bats will have made the trip up to Colorado tomorrow. First pitch will be at 5:10 PDT.