GAME THREAD: NL: COLORADO (62-57) at SAN DIEGO (64-55)

Nine-run fifth powers Padres past Rockies

<h3>SAN DIEGO 11, COLORADO 9</h3>SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- In a rare offensive slugfest at PetcoPark, the San Diego Padres pounded out 14 hits to outbash theColorado Rockies, 11-9, on Thursday.


Mike Cameron and Pete LaForest homered in a nine-run fifthinning, and Brian Giles and Terrmel Sledge each drove in a pairof runs for the Padres (65-55), who remained three games behindthe Arizona Diamondbacks (69-53) in the National League WestDivision.


San Diego, which ranked last in the majors with a .243 teambatting average entering Thursday's contest, has now scoredeight runs or more in four of its last six games.


The big fifth frame made a winner of Clay Hensley (2-3), who hasbounced back and forth from the minors to the rotation to thebullpen. The 27-year-old righthander's win was his first sinceApril 21 at Colorado.


Hensley yielded six runs and six hits while walking four butbattled to complete the fifth frame, putting himself in positionfor the win.


The Rockies jumped on top with single runs in the first andsecond on a groundout by Troy Tulowitzki and sacrifice fly byCory Sullivan.


The Padres evened the game with a pair of runs in the third offconverted reliever Elmer Dessens, who was making his first startof the season for the Rockies after being recalled from theminors. He had made 12 relief appearances over the first twomonths of the season for Milwaukee before being designated forassignment and picked up by Colorado.


Dessens nearly escaped with the win when Colorado tacked on fourruns in the top of the fifth on RBI singles by Matt Hollidayand Garrett Atkins and a two-run double by Brad Hawpe.

But San Diego's offense caught fire with two outs in the bottomhalf. With LaForest stuck on first base following a leadoffwalk, Geoff Blum delivered a two-out single and Cameron blasteda three-run homer to dead center, cutting the deficit to 6-5.

Jeremy Affeldt (4-3) came on in relief and failed to record anout, yielding five runs - including LaForest's homer - beforeMatt Herges finally put out the fire.


Colorado mounted a comeback in the sixth, scoring three timesoff previously untouchable reliever Kevin Cameron, who saw hisERA jump from 0.80 to 1.39 in just one-third of an inning. ButJustin Hampson and Heath Bell held on to get the ball to TrevorHoffman.


The All-Star closer nailed down his 30th save of the season witha scoreless ninth. Hoffman has now posted 30 saves in a season12 times, the only person in major league history to accomplishthe feat.

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COLORADO (9) AT SAN DIEGO (11) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Colorado Starting Lineups -- K Matsui 2B, T Tulowitzki SS, M Holliday LF,
T Helton 1B, G Atkins 3B, B Hawpe RF, Y Torrealba C, C Sullivan CF, E Dessens RHP.

San Diego Starting Lineups -- B Giles RF, G Blum 2B, M Cameron CF, A Gonzalez 1B,
K Greene SS, T Sledge LF, K Kouzmanoff 3B, P LaForest C, C Hensley RHP.

Umpires -- Dale Scott (HP), Ron Kulpa (1B), Paul Emmel (2B), Dan Iassogna (3B).


Gametime Weather: 73 degrees, Clear, wind left to right at 8 mph.


COLORADO 1ST: K Matsui singled to left. K Matsui stole second. K Matsui
safe at third on throwing error by catcher P LaForest. T Tulowitzki grounded
out to pitcher, K Matsui scored. M Holliday grounded out to shortstop.
T Helton walked. G Atkins grounded out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error)
COLORADO 1, SAN DIEGO 0.

SAN DIEGO 1ST: B Giles flied out to left. G Blum popped out to shortstop.
M Cameron struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 1, SAN DIEGO 0.

COLORADO 2ND: B Hawpe walked. Y Torrealba doubled to deep right, B Hawpe
to third. C Sullivan hit sacrifice fly to left, B Hawpe scored. E Dessens
bunted into fielder's choice to pitcher, Y Torrealba out at third. K Matsui
walked, E Dessens to second. T Tulowitzki popped out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) COLORADO 2, SAN DIEGO 0.

SAN DIEGO 2ND: A Gonzalez singled to right. K Greene struck out swinging.
T Sledge grounded out to first, A Gonzalez to second. K Kouzmanoff popped out
to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 2, SAN DIEGO 0.

COLORADO 3RD: M Holliday flied out to right. T Helton grounded out to
shortstop. G Atkins flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 2,
SAN DIEGO 0.

SAN DIEGO 3RD: P LaForest singled to left center. C Hensley sacrificed to
pitcher, P LaForest to second. B Giles singled to left, P LaForest scored,
B Giles to second advancing on throw. G Blum singled to right, B Giles scored.
M Cameron flied out to center. A Gonzalez grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 2, SAN DIEGO 2.

COLORADO 4TH: B Hawpe grounded out to second. Y Torrealba struck out
swinging. C Sullivan flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 2,
SAN DIEGO 2.

SAN DIEGO 4TH: K Greene flied out to center. T Sledge grounded out to
second. K Kouzmanoff struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 2,
SAN DIEGO 2.

COLORADO 5TH: E Dessens struck out swinging. K Matsui flied out to center.
T Tulowitzki singled to right. T Tulowitzki stole second. T Tulowitzki to
third on wild pitch by C Hensley. M Holliday singled to left, T Tulowitzki
scored. M Holliday stole second. T Helton walked. G Atkins singled to center,
M Holliday scored, T Helton to second. B Hawpe doubled to deep right center,
T Helton and G Atkins scored. Y Torrealba grounded out to second. (4 Runs,
4 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 6, SAN DIEGO 2.

SAN DIEGO 5TH: P LaForest walked. M Giles hit for C Hensley. M Giles
struck out looking. B Giles flied out to center. G Blum singled to center,
P LaForest to third. M Cameron homered to center, P LaForest and G Blum scored.
J Affeldt relieved E Dessens. A Gonzalez singled to center. A Gonzalez to
second on wild pitch by J Affeldt. K Greene intentionally walked. T Sledge
doubled to deep left, A Gonzalez and K Greene scored. K Kouzmanoff singled to
center, T Sledge scored. K Kouzmanoff stole second. P LaForest homered to
right, K Kouzmanoff scored. M Herges relieved J Affeldt. M Giles doubled to
deep right center. B Giles singled to center, M Giles scored. G Blum flied
out to center. (9 Runs, 8 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 6, SAN DIEGO 11.

COLORADO 6TH: K Cameron relieved C Hensley. C Sullivan singled to center.
M Herges struck out bunting foul. K Matsui singled to center, C Sullivan to
second. T Tulowitzki singled to right center, C Sullivan scored, K Matsui to
second. M Holliday singled to left, K Matsui scored, T Tulowitzki to second.
J Hampson relieved K Cameron. T Helton flied out to center. G Atkins singled
to left, T Tulowitzki scored, M Holliday to second. R Spilborghs hit for
B Hawpe. M Holliday stole third. R Spilborghs flied out to right. (3 Runs,
5 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 9, SAN DIEGO 11.

SAN DIEGO 6TH: R Spilborghs in right field. M Cameron struck out looking.
A Gonzalez flied out to right. K Greene popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) COLORADO 9, SAN DIEGO 11.

COLORADO 7TH: Y Torrealba struck out swinging. C Sullivan popped out to
third. C Barmes hit for M Herges. C Barmes singled to left. K Matsui struck
out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 9, SAN DIEGO 11.

SAN DIEGO 7TH: B Fuentes relieved M Herges. T Sledge struck out looking.
K Kouzmanoff flied out to center. P LaForest singled to right center. J Bard
hit for J Hampson. J Bard walked, P LaForest to second. B Giles struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 9, SAN DIEGO 11.

COLORADO 8TH: H Bell relieved J Hampson. J Bard catching. T Tulowitzki
struck out swinging. M Holliday grounded out to second. T Helton singled to
left. G Atkins struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 9,
SAN DIEGO 11.

SAN DIEGO 8TH: R Ramirez relieved B Fuentes. G Blum flied out to right.
M Cameron singled to left. A Gonzalez flied out to left. K Greene struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 9, SAN DIEGO 11.

COLORADO 9TH: T Hoffman relieved H Bell. R Spilborghs grounded out to
shortstop. Y Torrealba flied out to center. C Sullivan struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 9, SAN DIEGO 11.</div>

 

Nine-run fifth powers Padres past Rockies

<h3>SAN DIEGO 11, COLORADO 9</h3>SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- In a rare offensive slugfest at PetcoPark, the San Diego Padres pounded out 14 hits to outbash theColorado Rockies, 11-9, on Thursday.


Mike Cameron and Pete LaForest homered in a nine-run fifthinning, and Brian Giles and Terrmel Sledge each drove in a pairof runs for the Padres (65-55), who remained three games behindthe Arizona Diamondbacks (69-53) in the National League WestDivision.


San Diego, which ranked last in the majors with a .243 teambatting average entering Thursday's contest, has now scoredeight runs or more in four of its last six games.


"You don't see many games like that at this park," San Diegomanager Bud Black said. "Nevertheless it was a great win. Wehad contributions all around."


"I'm just glad I got a chance to play and help the team win,"LaForest said. "I've never been in a position in a race on thisstage. It's awesome."


The big fifth frame made a winner of Clay Hensley (2-3), who hasbounced back and forth from the minors to the rotation to thebullpen. The 27-year-old righthander's win was his first sinceApril 21 at Colorado.


Hensley yielded six runs and six hits while walking four butbattled to complete the fifth frame, putting himself in positionfor the win.


"I think a lot of Clay," Black said. "I thought his stuff wasgood. I went out (to the mound) and told him to just stay aheadof hitters and put them away."


The Rockies jumped on top with single runs in the first andsecond on a groundout by Troy Tulowitzki and sacrifice fly byCory Sullivan.


The Padres evened the game with a pair of runs in the third offconverted reliever Elmer Dessens, who was making his first startof the season for the Rockies after being recalled from theminors. He had made 12 relief appearances over the first twomonths of the season for Milwaukee before being designated forassignment and picked up by Colorado.


"I thought he pitched very well, especially being thrown inthere like that," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "He keptthe ball down the whole night."


Dessens nearly escaped with the win when Colorado tacked on fourruns in the top of the fifth on RBI singles by Matt Hollidayand Garrett Atkins and a two-run double by Brad Hawpe. But SanDiego's offense caught fire with two outs in the bottom half.

With LaForest stuck on first base following a leadoff walk,Geoff Blum delivered a two-out single and Cameron blasted athree-run homer to dead center, cutting the deficit to 6-5.

"(Cameron's) homer injected some life into the dugout," Blacksaid. "Then it went from there.


Jeremy Affeldt (4-3) came on in relief and failed to record anout, yielding five runs - including LaForest's homer - beforeMatt Herges finally put out the fire.


"I have a lot of confidence in our personnel," Hurdle said."That nine-run inning was absolutely the furthest thing from mymind. (The bullpen) pitched effectively, they just had one badinning."


"I kept the balls up and they hit 'em," Affeldt said. "Icouldn't locate my pitches. Basically I just got my butt kickedtonight."


Colorado mounted a comeback in the sixth, scoring three timesoff previously untouchable reliever Kevin Cameron, who saw hisERA jump from 0.80 to 1.39 in just one-third of an inning.

But Justin Hampson and Heath Bell held on to get the ball toTrevor Hoffman.


The All-Star closer nailed down his 30th save of the season witha scoreless ninth. Hoffman has now posted 30 saves in a season12 times, the only person in major league history to accomplishthe feat.

 

Nine-run fifth powers Padres past Rockies

<h3>SAN DIEGO 11, COLORADO 9</h3>SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- In a rare offensive slugfest at PetcoPark, the San Diego Padres pounded out 14 hits to outbash theColorado Rockies, 11-9, on Thursday.


Mike Cameron and Pete LaForest homered in a nine-run fifthinning, and Brian Giles and Terrmel Sledge each drove in a pairof runs for the Padres (65-55), who remained three games behindthe Arizona Diamondbacks (69-53) in the National League WestDivision.


San Diego, which ranked last in the majors with a .243 teambatting average entering Thursday's contest, has now scoredeight runs or more in four of its last six games.


"You don't see many games like that at this park," San Diegomanager Bud Black said. "Nevertheless it was a great win. Wehad contributions all around."


"I'm just glad I got a chance to play and help the team win,"LaForest said. "I've never been in a position in a race on thisstage. It's awesome."


The big fifth frame made a winner of Clay Hensley (2-3), who hasbounced back and forth from the minors to the rotation to thebullpen. The 27-year-old righthander's win was his first sinceApril 21 at Colorado.


Hensley yielded six runs and six hits while walking four butbattled to complete the fifth frame, putting himself in positionfor the win.


"I think a lot of Clay," Black said. "I thought his stuff wasgood. I went out (to the mound) and told him to just stay aheadof hitters and put them away."


The Rockies jumped on top with single runs in the first andsecond on a groundout by Troy Tulowitzki and sacrifice fly byCory Sullivan.


The Padres evened the game with a pair of runs in the third offconverted reliever Elmer Dessens, who was making his first startof the season for the Rockies after being recalled from theminors. He had made 12 relief appearances over the first twomonths of the season for Milwaukee before being designated forassignment and picked up by Colorado.


"I thought he pitched very well, especially being thrown inthere like that," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "He keptthe ball down the whole night."


Dessens nearly escaped with the win when Colorado tacked on fourruns in the top of the fifth on RBI singles by Matt Hollidayand Garrett Atkins and a two-run double by Brad Hawpe. But SanDiego's offense caught fire with two outs in the bottom half.

With LaForest stuck on first base following a leadoff walk,Geoff Blum delivered a two-out single and Cameron blasted athree-run homer to dead center, cutting the deficit to 6-5.

"(Cameron's) homer injected some life into the dugout," Blacksaid. "Then it went from there.


Jeremy Affeldt (4-3) came on in relief and failed to record anout, yielding five runs - including LaForest's homer - beforeMatt Herges finally put out the fire.


"I have a lot of confidence in our personnel," Hurdle said."That nine-run inning was absolutely the furthest thing from mymind. (The bullpen) pitched effectively, they just had one badinning."


"I kept the balls up and they hit 'em," Affeldt said. "Icouldn't locate my pitches. Basically I just got my butt kickedtonight."


Colorado mounted a comeback in the sixth, scoring three timesoff previously untouchable reliever Kevin Cameron, who saw hisERA jump from 0.80 to 1.39 in just one-third of an inning.

But Justin Hampson and Heath Bell held on to get the ball toTrevor Hoffman.


The All-Star closer nailed down his 30th save of the season witha scoreless ninth. Hoffman has now posted 30 saves in a season12 times, the only person in major league history to accomplishthe feat.