Solarte's 2-run homer lifts Padres to 4-3 win
By BERNIE WILSON
SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Colorado Rockies didn't have a chance against the San Diego Padres' bullpen.
Three relievers combined to strike out nine of the final 12 batters, including the last seven, and Yangervis Solarte hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the seventh inning of a 4-3 Padres victory Monday night.
"That's awesome to do that," said Nick Vincent (1-2) who earned the win with two perfect innings, including three strikeouts. Kevin Quackenbush struck out the side in the eighth and Joaquin Benoit struck out the side in the ninth for his sixth save in seven chances.
"It shows the fight we have in this club," Vincent said.
Rookie starter Jesse Hahn didn't have his best stuff and left trailing 3-1 after allowing Corey Dickerson hit a three-run homer in the sixth.
But Solarte's homer and the bullpen assured he wouldn't be tagged with the loss.
"That was awesome. I was in here watching it. It was just an unbelievable job by the guys," Hahn said.
Since stats started being tracked during the 1974 season, the Padres are the fourth major league team to end a game with seven or more consecutive strikeouts.
"The bullpen has been really solid all year," manager Bud Black said. "Look at the performance the guys have put out there. There's a lot of guys under the radar, not known nationally. But in the industry, you look at what a number of those guys have done during their major league service time."
Dickerson said the Padres relievers "were in kind of a zone. They got a lead and the back of their bullpen is pretty good and they pounded the strike zone. We didn't put together any good at-bats. We put three balls in plays, but not enough."
Yonder Alonso hit a solo homer in the fourth for the Padres, who improved to 14-8 since the All-Star break. They've won nine of their last 12 games.
Solarte homered to left with one out in the seventh on a 1-0 pitch from Boone Logan (2-3), who came on to start the inning. Pinch-hitter Abraham Almonte hit a leadoff double and was sacrificed by Will Venable ahead of Solarte's shot. It was his third with the Padres and ninth overall this year.
Nick Vincent (1-2) pitched two perfect innings for the win.
Dickerson hit a high, arching shot to right on a 2-1 curveball into the seats in right to chase Hahn in the sixth. Justin Morneau and Nolan Arenado were aboard on singles. It was Dickerson's 15th. He hit a tie-breaking homer in an extra-inning win at Arizona on Sunday.
"I was looking for a fastball," Dickerson said. "They threw in a couple of times and moved my feet. I was just trying to get my foot down for the fastball and he hung it and I recognized it and put a good swing on it."
Hahn failed to get out of the sixth for the second straight start. He allowed three runs and five hits in five-plus innings, struck out three and walked three.
Rockies starter Jordan Lyles allowed two runs and four hits in 5 1-3 innings, struck out four and walked three.
Alonso homered on a 1-0 pitch from Lyles with one out in the fourth, his seventh. The Padres had a chance to add another run but Jedd Gyorko was thrown out trying to score from first on a double to center by Yasmani Grandal.
The Padres loaded the bases with one out in the sixth but scored only one run, on a sacrifice fly by Rymer Liriano.
NEW GUY
Liriano was making his big league debut after being promoted earlier in the day from Triple-A El Paso. Liriano started in right field and went 0 for 2 with the sac fly and was hit by a pitch.
NEW GUY II
A.J. Preller, hired as the Padres' general manager on Wednesday, met with the players before the game and then watched them in person for the first time. Preller said before the game that it's been such a whirlwind that he hopes he can remember where in Texas he left his car. He had been the assistant general manager of the Texas Rangers.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: RHP Andrew Cashner, who's been on the disabled list since June 21 with a sore right shoulder, is scheduled to make rehab starts for Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday and Monday. Manager Bud Black said Cashner needs to build up his pitch count after throwing 24 pitches in a rehab start
UP NEXT
Rockies: Rookie Yohan Flande (0-4, 5.77 ERA) is still looking for his first victory. Tuesday night will be his seventh start and eighth appearance.
Padres: RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (2-3, 3.10) looks to win consecutive starts for the first time since June 23 and 29, which were his first two big league starts.
