Padres 4, Rockies 2
SAN DIEGO -- Homers by Matt Kemp, Jedd Gyorko and Justin Upton accounted for all of San Diego's runs and James Shields struggled through five innings to snap a three-game losing streak Friday night as the Padres opened the second half of the season with a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park.
Shields ran his record to 8-3 with his first win since being 7-0 on June 3. Right-handed closer Craig Kimbrel picked up his 24th save in 25 chances as the Padres won their third straight game.
The Padres jumped on Rockies left-handed starter Jorge De La Rosa (6-4) for three runs in the first inning on two-out, tape-measure homers by Kemp (solo) and Gyorko (two-run shot).
Justin Upton gave the Padres an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with a 413-foot drive into the second deck in left.
Kemp lined an 0-1 pitch from De La Rosa 401 feet into the second deck in left. For Kemp, typically a strong second-half hitter, it was his third homer in five games, his fifth in 17 games and his eighth in 33 games. His ninth homer of the season was only his third as a Padre at Petco Park.
Kemp has a history of success against De La Rosa. Kemp, who later drew a walk and doubled, is 20-for-46 against De La Rosa with four homers during his career.
After Upton reached first on catcher's interference by Michael McKenry, Gyorko cleared the wall in center with a 417-foot drive, his second homer since being recalled from Triple-A El Paso on July 1.
The Rockies had Shields in continuous trouble but didn't get on the scoreboard until center fielder Charlie Blackmon led off the fifth with his 12th homer of the season and his fourth against the Padres.
The Rockies stranded at least one runner in each of the five innings worked by Shields with a total of seven left on base, including four in scoring position and three at third. The Padres also turned a double play, and two Rockies were nailed on the bases.
Shields allowed one run, seven hits and four walks with six strikeouts in five innings. Only 56 percent of the 100 pitches he threw went for strikes.
He did get out of his final jam in the fifth with a nifty tactic and some solid play by his defense.
With runners on first and third and two out, Shields threw to third in an attempt to pick off Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. But Padres third baseman Yangervis Solarte quickly came off the tag and trapped Ben Paulson as he tried to advance to second. The first baseman was tagged out in a rundown and Tulowitzki was unable to advance.
The Rockies cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the seventh on singles by left fielder Brandon Barnes and Blackmon and a throwing error by Padres catcher Derek Norris when Blackmon stole second -- allowing Barnes to score from third.
NOTES: LHP Cory Luebke, who has had two rounds of Tommy John surgery since he last pitched in the major leagues early in the 2012 season, had his latest comeback attempt aborted Thursday when he had surgery to reroute a nerve in the elbow. He is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks. ... Rockies OF Corey Dickerson, who has been on the disabled list since June 17 with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, could start a rehab assignment next week if he responds favorably to physical tests the next couple days in San Diego. ... The Rockies have yet to name a starting pitcher for Sunday's game.