SAN DIEGO (AP) - Ian Kennedy probably deserved a better outcome. Still, he knows he’s on the right course.
Kennedy didn’t allow a hit through five innings and took a one-hitter into the seventh before it all fell apart for Kennedy and the Padres in a 3-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.
Franklin Morales allowed four hits in six innings and Wilin Rosario hit a tiebreaking groundout in a three-run seventh.
“Kennedy was tough, pounding the ball down, hitting the corners,” Justin Morneau said. “But when he made mistakes, we took advantage and we had some good at-bats in the seventh.”
Morales (1-1) allowed a solo homer to Xavier Nady leading off the fourth, a drive off the facing of the second deck in left field, before the Rockies struck in the seventh.
Corey Dickerson reached on a one-out double, Troy Tulowitzki walked and Morneau lined a ball to right field. Chris Denorfia broke in, then retreated as the ball went over him for an RBI double.
Rosario grounded out to shortstop as Tulowitzki scored for a 2-1 lead, and Nolan Arenado followed with a run-scoring single.
“Ian threw a hell of a game, he really did,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “He threw the ball great. They didn’t hit a ball hard until Morneau’s double. Even Arenado’s ball, that wasn’t smoked. He pitched outstanding.”
Kennedy retired his first 12 batters before walking Tulowitzki leading off the fifth. He didn’t allow a hit until Arenado’s leadoff double in the sixth.
After a rough outing in his first start of the season, Kennedy has rebounded with two solid starts.
“I can build off this,” Kennedy said. “If I threw like that every time, I would feel like the odds would be in my favor.”
Making his second career start against the Padres - and first at San Diego since allowing one hit in six shutout innings on Sept. 21, 2007 - Morales struck out five and walked one.
LaTroy Hawkins pitched the ninth to remain perfect in four save chances, finishing just the fourth win for the Rockies in 11 road games this season.
Nady’s homer was his third of the season and San Diego’s eighth, the lowest total in the NL.
NOTES: San Diego’s Everth Cabrera extended his hitting streak to nine games with a second-inning double. . Padres 3B Chase Headley was held out of the starting lineup for a second consecutive game with a strained right biceps. Headley had a pinch-single in the eighth. … Rockies RF Michael Cuddyer left in the seventh with a right hamstring cramp. … Longtime Rockies 1B Todd Helton is scheduled to be inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Thursday night at Sports Authority Field in Denver. … Padres 1B Yonder Alonso entered in the ninth inning and played third base for the third time in his big league career. … Rockies LHP Brett Anderson had surgery on Thursday to have pins inserted into his broken left index finger. The pins are expected to remain for six weeks. … The Rockies open a three-game set at home Friday night against Philadelphia, which sends RHP Jonathan Pettibone (0-0) against RHP Tyler Chatwood (0-0). … Giants RHP Matt Cain (0-2) opposes Padres RHP Tyson Ross (1-2) on Friday night.
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