• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Padres explode for seven in ninth to down Rockies

Jul 1, 2008 - 5:57 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- Edgar Gonzalez was the biggest of many big hitters for the San Diego Padres Monday night, and the offensive barrage could not have come at a better time.

Gonzalez recorded his first multi-homer game and first four-hit effort as the Padres rallied twice, including a seven-run ninth inning, to roll over the Colorado Rockies, 15-8, and end the club's longest losing streak since July 2005.

"It's a relief. We (lost) eight in a row and were struggling," Gonzalez said. "I guess we erupted today. It was bound to happen."

Khalil Greene hit an infield RBI single to trigger the ninth-inning rally, which was capped by Jody Gerut's three-run homer. Brian Giles racked up four hits, and Kevin Kouzmanoff hit three more, including a home run, as the Padres handed Colorado its eighth loss in a row.

"It's been a while, but eventually we were going to swing the bats like we did tonight," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "The part that I liked was that we fought back from two deficits."

Meeting at Coors Field for the first time since the tie-breaking 163rd game of the 2007 season, the clubs entered this game streaking in the wrong direction. And each side seemed allergic to holding a lead.

Greg Maddux struggled through his 10th straight start without a win, giving up eight runs and five extra-base hits in 4 2/3 innings. Heath Bell (6-3), one of four Padres relievers to pitch well after Maddux left, picked up the win.

"It's always good to see the hitters swing the bat well," said Bell, who pitched the eighth inning. "If we win a couple more games, I think the mood will start going up. And I think we are smart enough not to get too excited about the win."

Colorado starter Jorge De La Rosa took his lumps, yielding six runs and 11 hits. The Rockies have lost eight games in a row and slipped into sole possession of the National League West's cellar.

Gonzalez opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning to put the Padres (33-51) up early.

"There have been a lot of firsts for Edgar this year," Black said. "He toiled in the minor leagues ... and now he is a bright spot for us."

The Rockies responded in the bottom of the first when Chris Iannetta connected for a two-out, three-run double over the glove of a leaping Kouzmanoff at third base.

San Diego evened the score in the third inning with four consecutive singles, including RBI hits by Adrian Gonzalez and Kouzmanoff, who had three hits and a home run.

"What streak?" Adrian Gonzalez asked. "It's nice to start off the road trip with a win, and we have games against two key teams (the Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks). If we are able to pick up some games from them, we might put ourselves in a position to have a shot."

Colorado took a commanding lead when Brad Hawpe crushed a three-run homer in the third. Todd Helton hit an RBI double in the fourth to put the Rockies up, 7-3, and Troy Tulowitzki drove in Garrett Atkins to extend Colorado's lead in the fifth.

The Padres erased that deficit with a five-run sixth inning that was triggered by Kouzmanoff's leadoff home run. San Diego batted around as Tony Clark, Gerut, Edgar Gonzalez and Giles all drove in a run each during the rally, which tied the score, 8-8.

"Losing never should come easy, but sometimes it's harder than others," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "We needed a shut-down inning in the sixth and didn't get it. When we were tied, we needed to find a way to get out and we didn't do that. We didn't get the finish we needed."

Adrian Gonzalez and Kouzmanoff singled off Brian Fuentes (1-4) to open the ninth, and Gonzalez moved to third on a fielder's choice grounder from Chase Headley.

Greene hit a weak roller to the normally sure-handed shortstop Tulowitzki, who fumbled the bare-handed attempt to allow the run. And the rout was on.