DJ delivers in the clutch as Rockies take series in San Diego

It was a nail-biter of a game between the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres in the final of a four-game set. No runs were scored until the very last inning when a key at-bat from a rookie set the stage of a 3-1 Rockies win.

Pitcher Tyler Anderson gave the Rockies their second consecutive excellent start, going six scoreless innings and, like Jon Gray on Wednesday, refusing to issue any free passes. He struck out four.

The Padres offense still has some issues and it’s a good matchup in favor of Anderson but it was still a promising sign for him to bounce back from his disastrous outing in Arizona. His pace was better. His command was much better, and so were the results.

Neither offense could sustain a rally. All four of Colorado’s hits on the day came off the bats of Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu. And though the latter slapped his patented opposite-field single to score a pair of—what turned out to be vital—insurance runs, it was rookie Ryan McMahon who came through in the moment of the game.

With one of the toughest lefties in the game, Brand Hand, on the mound, fresh off a strikeout of Carlos Gonzalez, McMahon was in a tough spot, especially considering he had yet to be much of a factor this season at all.

He has to get the ball in play, but a double play bails the Padres out of a tough situation and swings the momentum of the game back in their favor. Patience would be required. And patience is what the young man showed, laying off some tough pitches near the lower end of the zone and drawing a four-pitch walk to get the first RBI of the game.

Hand was able to get Blackmon to pop out before LeMahieu’s clutch hit.

Manuel Margot put a quick scare into Rockies fans by smashing a solo home run against Wade Davis who otherwise shut down the side in order with a pair of punchouts.

Final stats

Tyler Anderson: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 K

Adam Ottavino: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K

Charlie Blackmon, 2-for-5, K

DJ LeMahieu: 2-for-4, 1 BB, 2 RBI

Joey Lucchesi: 5 IP, 1 IP, 7 K, 4 BB

Manuel Margot: 1-for-4, HR

Freddy Galvis: 2-for-3

What’s next

The Rockies return to frigid home tomorrow for the first game at Coors Field in 2018 against the Atlanta Braves. German Marquez will make his second start of the season, opposing Brandon McCarthy. First pitch is at 2:10 MDT.

BSN Denver is hosting a watch party at Will Call in Denver for the Opening Day festivities.