DENVER (AP) – Randy Vásquez delivered a remarkable performance, pitching seven shutout innings to guide the San Diego Padres to a narrow 1-0 victory against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.
The win marked the Padres’ 14th victory in their last 16 games, significantly improving their record to 15-3 against the Rockies since the start of last season, including a current streak of seven consecutive wins over them.
Vásquez’s Dominant Performance
After experiencing his worst outing of the season in a no-decision against Seattle, where he allowed four runs in four innings, Vásquez (2-0) bounced back impressively. He permitted just three hits, recorded five strikeouts, and did not issue any walks throughout the game.
Decisive Run and Pitching Strategy
The game’s sole run came in the sixth inning when Rockies starter Chase Dollander (2-2) walked Manny Machado with the bases loaded and two outs. This marked Dollander’s only walk of the night, despite his impressive performance of nine strikeouts in six innings, where he also threw a career-high 102 pitches.
In the ninth inning, Adrián Morejón pitched flawlessly to secure his first save of the season and the sixth of his eight-year Major League Baseball career. The Padres opted for Morejón instead of their usual closer, Mason Miller, who has not allowed a run in 32 2/3 innings.
Padres’ Pitching Dominance
Following Hunter Goodman’s single in the fourth inning, Padres pitchers retired the last 18 Colorado batters, showcasing their dominance on the mound. Fernando Tatís Jr. contributed offensively with two singles, being the only player from either team to achieve more than one hit.
The loss marked the Rockies’ ninth defeat in their last 12 games, raising concerns about their performance moving forward.
Looking Ahead
In the upcoming match of the three-game series, Colorado will send right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (1-1, 3.92 ERA) to the mound against San Diego’s right-hander Walker Buehler (1-1, 4.58) on Wednesday.