Justin Morneau’s Bat, Nolan Arenado’s Glove Not Enough In Colorado Rockies Loss To San Diego Padres
By Andrew Dill
Apr 16, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau (33) is congratulated by second baseman Josh Rutledge (14) after a solo home run during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Rockies dropped their second game of the four-game series to the San Diego Padres Wednesday night by the final score of 4-2. Andrew Cashner did a great job keeping the Rockies hitters off-balance, throwing 7.1 innings, giving up nine hits, two runs, one earned, one walk, and five strikeouts. His lone mistake would come in the second inning as Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau would get ahold a first-pitch change-up sending it into the sandbox in right-center field.
Morneau would produce all of Colorado’s offense Wednesday night, connecting with a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning to score Carlos Gonzalez from third. Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa was cruising until he hit a bump in the road in the fifth inning. With Chris Denorfia batting, De La Rosa would throw the ball into the dirt that was blockable. Instead, it went through the legs of Jordan Pacheco who would get charged with the passed ball scoring Alexi Amarista from third to put San Diego ahead 2-1. Denorfia would make Colorado pay as he slapped a double to right field to score Everth Cabrera to pull ahead 3-1.
Denorfia would add-on in the bottom of the eighth inning off of Rockies relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle, singling to center to bring in Amarista for his second run scored as the Padres lead was three. Despite Colorado bats being very ineffective Wednesday night, third baseman Nolan Arenado would show the world why he won a gold glove last season.
Notable Rockies Hitters:
- Carlos Gonzalez: 1-for-4, R.
- Justin Morneau: 3-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI.
- Wilin Rosario: Pinch-hit 2B.
Rockies Pitchers:
- Jorge De La Rosa (L, 0-3): 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO.
- Tommy Kahnle: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO.
- Chad Bettis: 1.0 IP, 1 SO.
De La Rosa was much improved in his fourth start of the season but things started to unravel once again when Jordan Pacheco let in a run on the passed ball. JDLR was showing that same emotion when something doesn’t go right, he will shake off signs constantly and step off the mound.
The Colorado Rockies (7-9) look up to even up the four-game series tomorrow night with lefty Franklin Morales on the hill taking on Padres right-hander Ian Kennedy. First-pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM ET, 4:40 PM MT.