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Iannetta powers Rockies past Padres

Jun 15, 2011 - 6:29 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Chris Iannetta belted a three-run homer and Juan Nicasio turned in a quality start as the Colorado Rockies downed the San Diego Padres, 6-3, to draw even in the three-game series.

Todd Helton, Ty Wigginton and Charlie Blackmon each had an RBI in the fourth inning to erase a two-run deficit.

Nicasio (2-1), making just his fourth major league start, allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out a career-high nine over six innings, as the Rockies halted a three-game slide.

Wade LeBlanc (0-2), who was recalled from Triple-A Tucson prior to the game, lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk.

Cameron Maybin, in just his second game back from the 15-day disabled list, went 2-for-4 and scored a run for the Padres, who have lost four of their past five contests.

Chris Denorfia started things with a bang, lifting the fifth pitch of the game over the fence in right-center to give the Padres an early 1-0 lead. Jason Bartlett was then hit by a pitch and stole second and third base. Nicasio settled, however, retiring Chase Headley, Ryan Ludwick and Anthony Rizzo in order to strand Bartlett.

Maybin, who returned from the disabled list on Monday, ripped a one-out double to left in the fourth and, two batters later, came around to score on Alberto Gonzalez's double.

LeBlanc, who was making just his second start of the season, ran into a gauntlet in the fourth, initiated by Chris Nelson's leadoff walk and subsequent stolen base. Helton's single to right-center scored Nelson and Troy Tulowitzki followed with a seed to left, which escaped the reach of Ludwick and bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double. Wigginton's line-drive single over second scored Helton to tied the game at two-apiece. With runners on the corners, Blackmon tallied the Rockies' fourth consecutive hit with a single to right, plating Tulowitzki and wrestling the lead away from the Padres.

The rally promptly fizzled, as LeBlanc settled to retire Ryan Spillborghs, Iannetta and Nicasio in order to end the inning.

With runners on first and second and one down in the sixth, Iannetta belted a 2-2 changeup from Pat Neshek deep over the fence in right, giving Colorado a decisive 6-2 lead.

"Just looking to try and get the barrel to it somehow," said Iannetta of the home run. "You know, [Neshek] is like a presentation guy, a lot of deception, the ball is coming from weird angles, you know, it's tough to see. So it was just a matter of trying to get the barrel to it, trying to see it first of all, and trying to get the barrel to it."

Later in the frame, with runners at the corners and two down, Helton ripped a sharp grounder towards second, which Logan Forsythe snared in a diving effort, forcing Helton out at first to save a run.

The Padres loaded the bases with one down in the seventh, but Matt Lindstrom was able to get Ludwick to pop out, before Rex Brothers spelled Lindstrom to strike out Rizzo, effectively squelching the threat.

The Padres added one in the ninth, as Headley ripped a two-out single to center, then stole second and came around to score on Ludwick's single. Huston Street then struck out Rizzo to seal the Colorado win.

"Somehow, someway, we have to try and figure out how to get those big runs," said Maybin. "One out, two out, you know, however we can do it, we have to try to figure out a way. We are trying. The effort is there."

Game Notes

Prior to Tuesday's game, the Rockies had dropped three straight to San Diego at Coors Field...The road team has won each of the last four series between these two teams...On Monday night, Anthony Bass earned the win for San Diego in his major league debut, becoming the first pitcher to win his big league debut for the Padres while allowing no more than one run since Jason Middlebrook on Sept. 17, 2001...San Diego is 16-13 on the road this season...Helton scored his 1,300th career run.