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Gonzalez, LeBlanc lead Padres over Rockies

Sep 16, 2008 - 7:19 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- Adrian Gonzalez finished with three hits - including a three-run homer - in support of starter Wade LeBlanc's solid outing as the San Diego Padres recorded an 11-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday.

Gonzalez had an RBI double in the first and belted his 33rd shot of the season against Colorado starter Greg Reynolds in the third to give San Diego a 5-0 advantage.

"This is the kind of game we need at times," Gonzalez said. "It gets us going in a good direction. We've had good games offensively lately, and this is a gratifying night to see everybody put together a good game."

LeBlanc (1-1) tossed six innings and was superb - save for Troy Tulowitzki's grand slam in the fourth.

"Luckily we had a pretty good-sized lead so I knew all I had to do was keep throwing strikes," LeBlanc said.

Chase Headley, Brian Giles and Matt Antonelli each drove in two runs for the Padres.

After snapping a seven-game losing streak on Sunday, Colorado was well-aware that its postseason hopes were dashed - and looked extremely overmatched.

"We came out swinging, right from the get-go. From (leadoff batter) Will Venable on down," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Everybody contributed tonight, and even though Nick Hundley didn't get a hit, I thought he had some very good at-bats."

San Diego wasted no time on the offensive end. Venable opened the first inning with a double and scored on a single up the middle by Giles and Gonzalez belted a double to begin the rout.

The Padres racked up six runs in the third, with Luis Rodriguez and Giles reaching on singles before Gonzalez delivered his homer. Kevin Kouzmanoff followed with a triple and Headley drove him home, finally signaling the end for Reynolds (2-7), who was tagged after giving up seven runs and nine hits in two innings.

"The command of his fastball wasn't there," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "Too many pitches up, too many pitches over the plate."

Jason Hirsh stepped in for relief and struck out the first batter he faced, but Antonelli ended that good vibe with his first career home run to make it 8-0.

"The way we got off in the first inning, getting hits all over the place, I was like, 'Oh, man, I guess it's true. It is a hitter's ballpark,'" Antonelli said. "Balls seemed to be traveling pretty good."

Chris Iannetta hit a solo home run in the eighth and Clint Barmes had a triple among his two hits for Colorado.