San Diego, CA (Sports Network) – Melvin Mora hit a two-run single to snap a seventh-inning tie, lifting the Colorado Rockies to a 4-2 win and sending National League West-leading San Diego to a 10th straight loss.
Troy Tulowitzki clubbed a solo home run and added a run-scoring groundout for the Rockies, who have won six of their last nine games to climb within 4 1/2 games of the Padres in the division.
Jorge De La Rosa (6-4) limited San Diego to six hits and two walks over six frames. His lone mistake came in the sixth inning, when Miguel Tejada tied the game with a two-run homer.
Padres starter Clayton Richard did not figure in the decision after he worked six innings, allowing two runs — one earned — and nine hits with three walks.
San Diego is in the midst of its longest slump since a franchise-worst 13-game skid from May 8-21, 1994. The Padres also had their lead over second-place San Francisco trimmed to 1 1/2 games. The Giants play in Los Angeles later Sunday.
Tejada’s blast erased a 2-0 deficit, but Colorado quickly responded in its next turn at the plate.
Tim Stauffer (3-3) replaced Richard on the mound and struck out Ryan Spilborghs to open the seventh. Stauffer was then lifted in favor of Mike Adams after Carlos Gonzalez singled and Tulowitzki walked.
Following a double steal, Mora stroked a base hit past the drawn-in infield to put the visitors on top.
Matt Belisle retired all six batters he faced in relief of De La Rosa. Huston Street gave up a bunt single to Tejada to begin the ninth, but the Colorado closer struck out three in a row to earn his 15th save.
The Rockies got on the board when Tulowitzki homered to open the fourth. Colorado picked up another run in the fifth. With runners on the corners, Spilborghs scored on Tulowitzki’s grounder to third.
Colorado recorded its first series sweep on the road this season…Gonzalez went 3-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games…Tejada played in the 2,000th game of his career…Colorado has won 11 of its 15 meetings with the Padres in 2010.