SAN DIEGO (AP) - Rex Brothers has been in tough spots before, but it’s likely the Colorado Rockies’ pitcher has ever lost a game like this.
The Padres scored two runs in the eighth inning on Brothers’ wild pitch and catcher Edwin Rosario’s errant throw back to the plate for a 5-4 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.
“I can’t remember the last time I saw a wild pitch produce two runs,” Padres manager Bud Black said.
The Rockies held a one-run lead when Brothers walked the bases loaded with two outs. Facing Yasmani Grandal, Brothers unleashed a wild throw. As Rosario retrieved the pitch, he turned and threw wildly back to Brothers covering the plate.
The ball was out of Brothers’ reach as Xavier Nady scored and, as the ball sailed past the mound, Seth Smith also came around to score to give the Padres took a 5-4 lead.
“He’s struggling a little bit right now and he’s getting in tough counts,” Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. “I felt like Rex was going to get through that inning. He almost was.”
It was the second consecutive tough outing for Brothers (1-2), who allowed a game-winning homer to Brandon Crawford on Sunday in San Francisco’s 5-4 win in 10 innings.
“I don’t have an excuse,” Brothers said. “As hard as it is, I’ll put it behind me and get my butt back out there and get the job done for these other guys.”
Said Weiss: “He struggled with his command, and his slider was bouncing well in front of the plate. He wasn’t getting swings on his slider like he usually does.”
Dale Thayer (2-0) pitched a perfect eighth inning and Huston Street worked the ninth for his fourth save.
San Diego is last in the National League in runs scored with 33 and near the bottom in batting average.
Rosario hit a two-run homer off Eric Stults with a drive into the left-field seats in the fifth inning to give Colorado a 4-0 lead.
Rockies rookie Jordan Lyles gave most of the lead back in the bottom of the inning when he allowed three runs.
“That was a big part of the game by bouncing back and getting back in it with clutch hits,” Black said.
Lyles allowed three runs on six hits over five innings.
The Rockies lost for the sixth time in eight road games.
Pinch-hitter Tommy Medica and Everth Cabrera had consecutive run-scoring doubles and Alexi Amarista followed with a run-scoring triple as San Diego cut the lead to 4-3 in the fifth.
Rockies right fielder Michael Cuddyer was injured on Amarista’s hit when he fell backward attempting to catch the ball as it went over his head. Cuddyer crashed hard into the right field message board and stayed slumped on the warning track before being removed from the game a few minutes later with a bruised right elbow.
Stults allowed four runs - three earned - on nine hits over five innings.
NOTES: Colorado placed LHP Brett Anderson on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a broken left index finger. OF Cory Dickerson was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs. . Padres LF Carlos Quentin (left knee bone bruise), who has been on the 15-day DL since the start of the season, took a full round of batting practice, but there is still no timetable for his return. . The teams continue their four-game series Tuesday night with Rockies RHP Juan Nicasio (1-0, 3.75 ERA) set to face Padres LHP Robbie Erlin (1-0, 1.35).
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