Friedrich dominates former team as Padres jolt Rockies
SAN DIEGO -- Left-hander Christian Friedrich shut out his former teammates on two hits over seven innings Saturday night to lead the San Diego Padres to a 6-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park.
Yangervis Solarte and Wil Myers each had a double and single. Solarte drove in half the Padres' runs while Myers had two RBIs. Jon Jay had two hits, an RBI and scored two runs.
Friedrich snapped a personal eight-game losing streak while improving to 5-10. In addition to issuing a walk, Friedrich matched his career high with 10 strikeouts. He threw only 93 pitches in seven innings with 68 going for strikes.
The Padres signed Friedrich earlier this season after he was released by the Rockies.
Brandon Maurer came on to pitch a perfect ninth to pick up his ninth save after the Rockies scored three unearned runs in the eighth off relievers Jose Dominguez and Brad Hand.
The Padres jumped to a 6-0 lead in the first two innings against Rockies starter Jon Gray (9-8). And they could have had more.
The scoring opened with three straight one-out singles by Jay, Myers and Solarte, with Jay scoring his first on on Solarte's hit. Alex Dickerson then rocketed a line drive that was speared by leaping Rockies' first baseman Mark Reynolds, who doubled Myers off second.
The Padres batted around in the second while scoring five runs - all coming with two out.
Derek Norris drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a single by Luis Sardinas. Friedrich attempted to advance the runners with a sacrifice bunt, but Gray threw out Norris on a force at third. The Padres loaded the bases when Travis Jankowski was awarded first on catcher's interference by Tom Murphy.
Jay made it 2-0 with a run-scoring single to right. Myers then rocketed a line drive over the head of left fielder David Dahl that bounced into the stands for a two-run double. Solarte followed with a two-run double.
Gray departed two innings later having been charged with six runs (five earned) on eight hits and three walks in four innings.
Meanwhile, Friedrich was in total command of the Rockies.
He gave up a two-out double to Carlos Gonzalez in the first then walked Nolan Arenado before retiring Murphy on a fly to left to end the threat.
In the third, Colorado second baseman DJ LeMahieu lined a single off Friedrich's knee that ricocheted into foul ground in front of the Rockies dugout.
After the Padres medical crew gave Friedrich the OK to continue, the 6-foot-4, 29-year-old retired the final 13 Rockies he faced.
The Rockies got on the board with three unearned runs the inning after Friedrich departed.
Reynolds opened the inning by reaching first on an error by shortstop Luis Sardinas. Charlie Blackmon drew a walk from right-handed reliever Jose Dominguez and LeMehieu put the Rockies on the board with a RBI single.
Brad Hand replaced Dominguez and immediately advanced the runners with a wild pitch. Carlos Gonzalez then hit a two-run single to make it 6-3.
NOTES: OF Gerardo Parra is expected to return to the Rockies lineup when Colorado is in Arizona the first three days of next week. Parra missed his third start Saturday due to a mild hamstring strain. ... RHP Jarred Cosart will definitely miss his next start for the Padres due to slight strains of his right groin and hamstring, although Padres manager Andy Green expects him to return for his next start. ... RHP Paul Clemens is scheduled to start Monday in San Francisco, although he is currently suffering from the flu. LHP Clayton Richard will be bumped up to Tuesday and Luis Perdomo to Wednesday before the Padres get Thursday off. ... Colorado 2B DJ LeMahieu's line-drive single off the left knee of LHP Christian Friedrich in the third extended the Rockies' second baseman's streak of reaching base to a career-high 27th straight game.