Rockies 4, Padres 3: Ian Desmond snatches victory from the jaws of defeat

The Colorado Rockies walked off the San Diego Padres to earn the series win. They are now 70-57 and close within one game of the Diamondbacks for the NL West lead. Trailing 3-2 and down to their last out with Trevor Story on second base, Ian Desmond hit a 1-0 splitter over the left-centerfield wall to give the Rockies a 4-3 victory.

Edit: You can find the KOA call with video here.

It was the fourth time in the last 11 games that the Rockies won a game after trailing going into the ninth; the others being August 11 against the Dodgers, August 16 at Atlanta, and again on August 18 at Atlanta.

Kyle Freeland, Guys

Freeland didn’t seem to be at his sharpest on Thursday, but two of his seven hits were of the infield variety and another two were merely blooped into the outfield. He did have seven strikeouts on the day and allowed just two runs; he had the lead when he was removed after 6 ¹⁄₃ innings. His season ERA remained at 2.90.

It almost slipped away

The Rockies were clinging to a one-run lead in the seventh when Kyle Freeland allowed a one-out single to AJ Ellis. With Wil Myers set to pinch hit, Bud Black brought in Bryan Shaw for the platoon advantage. Shaw quickly got Myers to 1-2, but then Shaw issued three straight balls to issue the walk. After Trevor Story missed a ground ball to load the bases, Jose Pirela got his third hit of the day and fourth of the series to give the Padres a 3-2 lead.

Every day is a Holliday

It’s been ten years since he appeared in a Rockies uniform but the fans were ready to welcome Matt Holliday back.

It was an uneventful day for Matt, though, going 0-for-3 and being replaced defensively by Gerardo Parra in the top of the seventh. He did send a ball to the deepest part of the ballpark in his second at bat and, had it not been for the swirling wind, likely would’ve had his first home run of the year.

Up Next

The Rockies will begin a three game weekend set against the only team in the league hotter than them, the St Louis Cardinals. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 pm MT and Antonio Senzatela will start opposite Miles Mikolas of the Cardinals.