Had rain forced this game to go into a delay and even a game-called situation after five or six innings, the Colorado Rockies could have picked up a nice 7-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday afternoon. But, as things turned out, the Rockies couldn't hold on, allowing six runs over the last three innings. The Brad Hawpe-led Padres earned a 9-7 victory.
After Kyle Phillips put the Padres on the board in the third inning with an RBI single, the Rockies answered back in the bottom of the inning with three runs of their own. Todd Helton's fifth homer of the season capped the inning, but Troy Tulowitzki blasted a two-run double right before that, only to be thrown out at third on the play.
Carlos Gonzalez, who had an RBI single in the third, hit his fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning. Ty Wigginton and Chris Iannetta added a single and a sacrifice fly, respectively, to put the Rockies up, 7-1.
Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin worked his way through the first six innings of the game as was expected. He allowed just one run up until the start of the seventh. Then he started the inning with two walks and a single. Eric Patterson had the next at-bat and on the ball in play, Chacin was charged with two errors when he attempted the throw to first base, allowing two runs to score. Matt Lindstrom came into relieve Chacin and allowed all the inherited runners to score.
The Padres got to Rafael Betancourt in the eight for two more runs to tie the game at seven. Manager Jim Tracy then sent closer Huston Street out for the ninth inning. Street allowed a leadoff double to Will Venable, but he was thrown out on a Jorge Cantu fielder's choice. And then Brad Hawpe, who already had two hits in the game, unloaded for a two-run home run and a 9-7 Padres lead.
Heath Bell picked up his ninth save of the season, while Huston Street fell to 0-1 on the season.
The Rockies and Padres conclude this series on Sunday afternoon at 1:15 p.m. MT with Jason Hammel and Mat Latos on the mound.
For more on the Rockies, visit Purple Row. To learn more about the Padres, head over to Gaslamp Ball.