THE CURSE IS OVER; PADRES BLOW OUT ROCKIES FOR FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON

By Liz Alper

Photo:  Rockies Opening Day courtesy @Padres on Twitter

April 8, 2016 (Denver) - The Padres hit the road for their first trip of the season.  First, it’s to Denver to take on the Colorado Rockies and the deadly Trevor Story.  Colin Rea took the mound for San Diego against Jordan Lyles for Colorado.

For once, the Padres didn’t give up any runs in the first inning.  They gave up runs in the second inning instead.  Story hit an RBI single--his eighth RBI of the season--and it was 1-0 Rockies.  Carlos Gonzalez doubled and drove in a run for a 2-0 Colorado lead.

In the fourth, the unthinkable happened.  Jon Jay hit a drive up through center and broke the Padres’ 30-inning scoreless streak by driving in a run and making the score 2-1 Rockies.  Two runs scored on the next at-bat, a nice line drive triple by Cory Spangenberg and the Padres took their first lead of the season, 3-2.  Matt Kemp drove in his first RBI of the season, driving in Spangenberg for a 4-2 Padres lead.  After a pitching change, Yangervis Solarte drove in two more runs on an RBI double.  6-2 Padres.  I couldn’t believe it either.

In the home half of the fourth, Charlie Blackmon drove in D.J. LeMahieu on a single to make the score 6-3 Padres.  Then Trevor Story did what he’s been doing for the past three games.  He jacked it to left field for his fifth home run in four games and for a two-run homer and to get the Padres’ lead back to one at 6-5 and also to get Rea out of the game.

Kemp blasted the ball to left field in the fifth off of new pitcher Justin Miller for his first home run of the season.  He drove in three runs at the homer and the score was 9-5.

In the sixth, Melvin Upton absolutely defeated a baseball to left field and the Padres got two more runs, 11-5.  Yes, the Padres were in double digits.  I was stunned.

In the ninth, the Padres tacked on two more to finish the job on a double by Solarte to make the score 13-5.

In the Rockies’ half of the ninth, Story wouldn’t let the Padres win that easily and hit his sixth homer in four games, bringing the score to 13-6.  No ninth inning rally was had and the Padres get their first win of the season.  They’re back at it tomorrow with Drew Pomeranz on the mound.