Padres 7, Rockies 6: Rox suffer 5th straight loss

After a disastrous game last night, the Colorado Rockies turned to starting pitcher Tyler Matzek, the last pitcher to win a game for the club, to try to halt a four game losing streak. After two scoreless innings that saw him throw just 28 pitches, Matzek ran into trouble in the third, allowing a solo home run to former Rockies Clint Barmes, a double to Derek Norris, and an RBI single to Matt Kemp.

Meanwhile, the Rockies bats continued to struggle in the early going. Playing without Nolan Arenado and Corey Dickerson, the team's only hit was a first inning double from Troy Tulowitzki that could've very easily been ruled an error on third baseman Will Middlebrooks.

In the fourth inning, the Rockies finally got the bats going. A Justin Morneau single, Nick Hundley triple (on a ball that was misplayed by Matt Kemp), and DJ LeMahieu groundout tied up the game, 2-2.

The good fortune continued for the Rockies in the fifth. After Matzek worked around two walks, a single, and an error thanks to a great throw from Carlos Gonzalez and a double play, the offense struck for three runs thanks to singles from Tyler Matzek and Rafael Ynoa, a triple from Charlie Blackmon, and a sacrifice fly from Troy Tulowitzki.

Matzek lasted just five innings and struggled with command, allowing six walks and throwing only 44 of his 85 pitches for strikes. Nonetheless, he allowed just two runs and left the game with the Rockies leading, 5-2.

Unfortunately, all the innings on the bullpen started to take a toll on them tonight. Brooks Brown allowed a run on three hits in 1⅔ innings, Rafael Betancourt allowed a run in his ⅔ of an inning, and Boone Logan allowed three runs on three hits in ⅔ of an inning. Just like that, the Rockies trailed, 7-5.

With just six outs to play with and the unenviable task of facing relief aces Joaquin Benoit and Craig Kimbrel, the Rockies faced an uphill climb. After going down 1-2-3 in the eighth, Nick Hundley led off the ninth inning with his first home run in a Rockies uniform to cut the lead to 7-6. Alas, it was not to be. Wilin Rosario struck out, Corey Dickerson grounded out to first, and Daniel Descalso popped out to Alexi Amarista to end the game and drop the Rockies to 7-7 on the young season.

Tomorrow, the Rockies face another tough pitching match-up with Kyle Kendrick set to face James Shields with the club desperately needing a win.

Source: FanGraphs