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Cuddyer carries Colorado in win over Padres

Apr 7, 2013 - 5:25 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Michael Cuddyer hit a two-run home run and had four RBI, as the Colorado Rockies defeated the San Diego Padres, 6-3, in a National League West matchup on Saturday.

Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki had an RBI apiece for the Rockies, who saw starter Jon Garland (1-0) allow two runs on five hits over six innings. Rafael Betancourt pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his third save of the season.

"It was another great start from one of our starting pitchers. That is a lot to be proud of for Jon right there after being away from pitching for that long and to go out there and pitch like that," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.

Jedd Gyorko drove in two runs and Alexi Amarista had an RBI for the Padres. Starter Tyson Ross (0-1) needed 96 pitches to get through four-plus innings and gave up three runs -- two earned -- on three hits and four walks.

"The first inning put him behind the eight ball in pitch count. The third and fourth were pretty clean, but in the fifth I noticed the velocity was coming down a bit and knew it was time to make a move," Padres manager Bud Black said.

In the first, Cuddyer hit a two-out single into right, scoring Josh Rutledge.

The Padres got their first score in the fourth. After a leadoff double by Carlos Quentin, Yonder Alonso singled into left-center field. Gyorko walked, loading the bases. Amarista grounded towards the shortstop, but was able to bring Quentin home, tying the game at 1-1. Cameron Maybin was up next, but he grounded into a double play, ending the inning.

The Rockies started to pull away in the fifth. Dexter Fowler drew a leadoff walk and Rutledge reached first after Everth Cabrera committed an error. Gonzalez singled to right and brought Fowler home. Tulowitzki followed that with a single of his own, scoring Rutledge, but was thrown out at second while attempting to advance on the play. Cuddyer was next to the plate, and he also singled to right, as Gonzalez reached home.

Gyorko got his first RBI of the night in the sixth on a grounder, plating Quentin, who hit a leadoff double.

After Tulowitzki was walked with one out in the seventh, Cuddyer homered to right, giving the Rockies a 6-2 lead.

Gyorko hit a two-out RBI double in the eighth, bringing Chris Denorfia home.

Betancourt pitched for the Rockies in the ninth. He allowed a two-out single by Mark Kotsay, who reached second due to a defensive interference, but got Cabrera to ground out to shortstop to end the game.

Game Notes

The Padres were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, while the Rockies were 4-for-9 ... Rutledge had a stolen base ... Jon Garland had not pitched in the majors since June 1, 2011 ... Colorado has won the first two games of this three-game series.