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SAN DIEGO(AP)
Yorvit Torrealba
was down to his final strike before helping Colorado rally for another September win.
Torrealba hit a three-run double off NL saves leader
Heath Bell
to lead the Rockies to a 4-1 win over the
San Diego Padres
on Friday night.
Torrealba's bases-loaded hit into the left-center field gap allowed the Rockies to pull out a comeback win and remain two
games behind the first-place
Los Angeles Dodgers
in the NL West. Los Angeles beat the Giants 10-3 at San Francisco.
''We've had some dramatic games since the end of May, but that one there goes to the top of the list,'' Rockies manager
Jim Tracy
said.
Colorado, with a major-league best record of 62-28 since June 4, had been held to just three hits off five Padres pitchers
before tagging Bell with his first blown save at home. The NL co-leader with 37 saves gave up four runs on three hits and
two walks.
Torrealba, who came into the game defensively in the seventh inning, fell behind 0-2 before he connected on Bell's 2-2 fastball.
''He surprised me that he threw so many fastballs,'' Torrealba said. ''At 2-2, I figured he would throw me a fastball since
he doesn't want to go 3-2. It seems like he doesn't feel comfortable throwing his slider.''
Bell (5-3), who has four blown saves, struggled with his control throughout the inning.
''My mechanics were off and I wasn't hitting my spots,'' he said. ''I should have thrown him a curve ball. If I had thrown
him a curve ball, I think we would have won the game. He's not a good breaking ball hitter. I should have thrown a breaking
ball. It's probably a better percentage pitch.''
San Diego was on the verge of handing the Rockies a tough loss in their playoff chase with 20 games left in the season after
Jorge De La Rosa
walked in the game's only run in the first inning.
But Colorado rebounded for its eighth straight win as the Rockies increased their lead in the wild-card race to 5 1/2 games
over the Giants. Colorado raised its record to 10-1 in September, tops in the majors.
''After being down 1-0 almost all game, to be able to come through off the bench, it was huge,'' Torrealba said. ''We're trying
to get to the playoffs, so it's pretty exciting.''
Torrealba is 13 for 18 (.722) with runners in scoring position since May 29.
Bell gave up a leadoff walk to
Todd Helton
, who was replaced by
Mike McCoy
.
Brad Hawpe
singled with one out before pinch-hitter
Jason Giambi
walked to load the bases.
Bell struck out pinch hitter
Matt Murton
before Torrealba drove a ball into the gap to clear the bases.
Paul Phillips
added an RBI single off Bell.
''That's just an unbelievable game,'' Tracy said.
Rafael Betancourt
(3-1) got two outs for the win and
Franklin Morales
pitched the ninth inning for his sixth save in seven chances.
De La Rosa allowed one run on five hits in seven innings. He walked four and struck out eight to set the club single-season
record for strikeouts by a left-hander with 170.
Edward Mujica
made his first career start and allowed two hits in four scoreless innings.
The Rockies' only scoring threat before the ninth came in the seventh when they loaded the bases. But
Luke Gregerson
struck out pinch hitter
Ryan Spilborghs
.
San Diego loaded the bases in the first inning on
David Eckstein
's one-out double, a walk to
Adrian Gonzalez
and
Chase Headley
's bloop single that hit off the glove of second baseman
Clint Barmes
in short right field. Barmes had the ball in his glove before it popped out as he hit into a sliding Hawpe.
De La Rosa then walked Salazar on four consecutive pitches to force in a run. De La Rosa got out of the inning by getting
Will Venable
to ground into a double play.
Mujica's first major league start came after 116 career appearances out of the bullpen. The right-hander drew the start in
place of rookie
Mat Latos
, who has been shut down for the season due to the number of innings he's thrown.
NOTES: Rockies RHP
Jose Contreras
, who left Thursday's 5-1 win over Cincinnati with right quadriceps strain, will probably not make his next start, Tracy said.
... De La Rosa broke the Rockies' single-season strikeout mark by lefties set by
Jeff Francis
in 2007. ... The Padres will honor the Park View All-Stars, who recently won the Little League World Series, before Saturday's
game against the Rockies. Park View, from nearby Chula Vista, will take batting practice with San Diego's last group.
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