Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Troy Tulowitzki resumed his September power surge, belting two home runs and tied a career high with seven RBI, as the Colorado Rockies defeated San Diego, 9-6, to avoid a three-game sweep at Coors Field.
In Progress: Padres Try For Crucial Three-Game Sweep In Colorado
Tulowitzki hit a two-out single in the first inning to plate Eric Young Jr., then blasted a three-run homer in each of his next two at-bats. The Colorado shortstop now has four career multi-homer games, with three coming in the last eight contests.
NL MVP candidate Carlos Gonzalez drove in the other two runs for the Rockies, who entered this series having won 10 in row. Jorge De La Rosa (8-4) gave up five runs on six hits and struck out seven in 7 1/3 innings.
Adrian Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI for San Diego, which has lost 14 of its last 20 games. Clayton Richard (12-8) was victimized for eight runs and 11 hits -- both season highs -- in three-plus innings.
Colorado is 2 1/2 games back in both the division standings and the wild-card race.
With the Padres trailing 1-0, Yorvit Torrealba homered off De La Rosa to tie the game in the top of the third, but the Rockies responded with a four-spot in the bottom of the inning.
Consecutive one-out singles by Jonathan Herrera and Carlos Gonzalez scored De La Rosa, who led off with a base hit. Tulowitzki followed with a blast over the center-field wall.
Back-to-back doubles by Miguel Tejada and Adrian Gonzalez to open the fourth trimmed San Diego's deficit to 5-2, but Colorado pushed four more runs across in the home half of the frame.
Richard was lifted in favor of Edward Mujica after he allowed three straight singles to Young, Herrera and Carlos Gonzalez, with the latter bringing in a run. It became a 9-2 affair when the second pitch from Mujica was sent to the left-field seats by Tulowitzki.
Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo shot in the sixth and added a three-run homer in the eighth to help the Padres get back in the game. David Eckstein hit a one- out double and Tejada walked before the San Diego first baseman hammered the only pitch thrown by reliever Joe Beimel the opposite way to left field.
Rafael Betancourt struck out the next two batters to end the eighth, and Huston Street tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 19th save of the season.
Tulowitzki has 11 home runs and 27 RBI in 15 September games...Carlos Gonzalez has four straight multi-hit games...De La Rosa has won his last four decisions...Colorado outfielder Ryan Spilborghs went 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 10 games...The Rockies have won 10 consecutive day games...San Diego hasn’t swept a three-game series at Coors Field since April 6-8, 2001...Colorado won 12 of 18 against San Diego in the season series.
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