Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Miguel Tejada hit a two-run homer and added a two-run single, as the San Diego Padres regained sole possession of first place in the NL West with a 6-4 win over the surging Colorado Rockies.
Padres Snap Rockies’ Winning Streak Behind Miguel Tejada, Strong Bullpen
Tejada finished with three hits and scored the decisive run on Ryan Ludwick’s single in the fifth inning.
Aaron Cunningham had two hits and scored twice for the Padres, who have won five of their last eight games after losing 10 straight. San Diego moved a half-game ahead of idle San Francisco in the division standings while bumping Colorado, which had won 10 in a row, 2 1/2 games off the pace.
Troy Tulowitzki's three-run homer fueled a four-run fifth inning for the Rockies that followed an RBI single by Carlos Gonzalez.
Jeff Francis (4-5), making his first start since August 11 after being on the disabled list with shoulder soreness, allowed the home run to Tejada among five hits in three innings. The erstwhile ace was working on a pitch count.
Tejada’s 298th career home run put San Diego on the board in the first.
The Padres pushed three runs home in the fifth after the first two outs were recorded. Jerry Hairston Jr. singled and Cunningham walked, with both runners advancing on an errant pickoff throw to second by the Rockies' Esmil Rogers.
Tejada then grounded a single up the middle to make it 4-0. Joe Beimel took over on the mound, and consecutive singles by Adrian Gonzalez and Ludwick drove home a fifth run.
San Diego rookie Cory Luebke, making his third career start, was good through the first four innings before a disastrous fifth. With two outs and runners on first and second, Carlos Gonzalez put Colorado on the board with a base hit to right field. Tulowitzki's blast to center trimmed the deficit to 5-4.
Melvin Mora and Todd Helton continued the hit parade with back-to-back singles, but Ernesto Frieri (1-1) came on to retire Ryan Spilborghs on a fielder's choice to end the frame.
A pinch-hit home run by Oscar Salazar gave San Diego an insurance run in the ninth.
Heath Bell worked around a leadoff walk in the bottom of the inning to earn his 41st of the season, one shy of his career high set last season.
Frieri picked up his first major league win...Bell has converted each of his last 28 save opportunities...Colorado’s 10-game win streak was shy of the franchise record, which was last accomplished from June 4-14, 2009...Before the game, the Padres activated outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. from the 15-day disabled list. Gwynn was placed on the DL on August 19 with a fractured hamate bone in his right hand...San Diego began a 10-game road trip...The Rockies have still won 11 of 16 from the Padres this season.
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