Padres Series Recap vs. Colorado Rockies

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May 18, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; General view of Coors Field during the eighth inning of the game between the San Diego Padres against the Colorado Rockies. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres (66-76) were swept right out of the Mile High City by the last-place Rockies (59-84). This was a very frustrating series as the Padres offense never could find a rhythm. The Rockies out-scored San Diego 16-6 in the three games. This marks the first time since early June that the Padres have suffered a sweep, when they lost all 3 games to the Phillies in Philadelphia, ironically, another last place team.

The Padres offense was nearly non-existent for much of the series. The team hit .202 in the 3 games and only scoring runs in one of them. They were shut out in Friday and Sunday’s losses. If an offense player of the series had to be selected, it would be Jedd Gyorko. He had 4 hits, 2 RBI and 2 walks, including a two doubles. For the Rockies, Nolan Arenado was the star of the series. He had a hit in each game with two home runs and 3 RBI.

Aug 20, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Eric Stults (53) throws in the 2nd inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Friday’s shutout loss was perhaps one of the worst offensive showings of the year for San Diego. They only got three runners in scoring position and stranded all three. They only mustered 3 hits total and only drew one walk, while striking out 6 times. The team hit .100 in the game.

Drew Stubbs started the game off with a bang for Colorado by hitting his 14^th home run of the year over the right field wall. In the middle innings, Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado extended the lead to 3-0 with an RBI single and home run respectively. The score would remain that way the remainder of the game. Tyler Matzek was stifling. He finished the complete game shutout to make it a three-hitter. The shutout was the first of his career. Eric Stults was tagged with his major-league leading 16^th loss of the season by allowing all 3 runs in 6.1 innings and scattering 8 hits. He has been at the wrong end of many scores like this as the Padres have failed to score while Stults pitches in 8 of his 28 starts. The shutout was the first time the Padres had been blanked at Coors Field since April 2010.

May 28, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Tommy Medica (14) hits a solo home run during the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres offense woke up in Saturday, hitting two home runs and getting to the Rockies veteran Jorge De La Rosa for 3 runs on 6 hits and a walk. The Rockies struck first when Michael McKenry hit his 7^th home run of the year. Justin Morneau added another home run as it was 4-0 Rockies after 3 innings. The Padres started to fight back in the 4^th when Jedd Gyorko singled home Yangervis Solarte to make it 4-1. Tommy Medica hit his first home run in a while in the 5^th inning. His 8^th homer of the year made it 4-2. With the score 6-2, Gyorko again drove in a run with his 12^th double of the season. Then the rookie Cory Spangenberg hit his 2^nd career home run to bring the Padres within one in the 7^th inning. Seth Smith came through in the 8^th with a game-tying single. The game went into extra innings.

In the bottom of the 12^th, Drew Stubbs finally sent everyone home with a walk-off single to left, scoring DJ LeMahieu. Joe Wieland made a start for the Padres but he didn’t last long, only going 2.1 innings and allowing 4 runs.

Sep 3, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits a single during the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. The Rockies won 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday was once again all Rockies and no Padres offense. Jackson Williams delivered a crushing blow in the 2^nd, hitting a three-run home run to put the Rockies up 3-0, his first of his career. That was really all starting pitcher Franklin Morales needed, as he pitched 6 scoreless innings while striking out 6 and only allowing 4 hits.

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Tyson Ross’ streak of 14 consecutive quality starts was snapped on in the 6-0 loss. He didn’t get out of the 6^th inning, allowing 3 runs and walking 4. He did have 7 strikeouts but had to leave in the 6^th with 116 pitches, an out shy of continuing his franchise-record long streak. The Rockies eventually made it 6-0 when Robbie Erlin finally returned to the mound for San Diego. He allowed 3 runs in two innings. San Diego only managed to get 6 hits in the ballgame. Sunday marked the second time in the weekend that the Padres were shutout. The loss was Ross’ 13^th. The only Padre who had a good game was Gyorko, with 2 hits, including a double and a walk.

Aug 30, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Rene Rivera (44) is congratulated by center fielder Abraham Almonte (16) after scoring on a double by starting pitcher Ian Kennedy (not pictured) during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The rookies and newcomers have been contributing for San Diego lately. Rymer Liriano, Abraham Almonte, and Cory Spangenberg hit well in the series while most of the Padres regulars struggled. The Padres have struggled to start off September, with a 2-5 record. They have lost 5 straight and it won’t get any easier as they travel to Chavez Ravine to face the first-place Dodgers. The Friars are still in 3^rd place and don’t look to be moving any time soon.

The Padres elimination number is 6 with 20 games left. In order to finish with a better record than the last two year, the Padres need to go 11-9 in their remaining games this year. That must be the goal for San Diego moving forward, just finish better than last year. The Padres also have a chance to play spoiler as they face a few playoff contending teams in the coming weeks.

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