Jon Gray dominates the Padres… again

It’s Charlie Blackmon appreciation day and the Colorado Rockies played one of their best all-around games of the season in honor of one of their best all-around players. The man himself celebrated with his specialty; a leadoff base hit that set the tone for the inning and the game.

But as fitting as it was to see Blackmon play a pivotal role in driving the offense to a 5-2 win on the day he signed a shiny new six-year contract extension, the star of this game—for the first time this year for Colorado—was the starting pitcher.

Jon Gray was masterful in his artistry on the mound.

Painting the fastball on the edges of the strike zone, working in a nasty slider, and even getting some devastating curveballs into the mix, he breezed through the Padres, looking every bit the ace he intends to be in 2018.

He worked ahead all night, getting the first strike on 17 of his 26 batters, and did not walk a batter. Gray has dominated the Padres in his career, famously setting a new record for strikeouts (16) in a single game at Coors Field against them. He now has 47 strikeouts to just six walks in his outings against San Diego.

Blackmon began the first with a single up the middle and DJ LeMahieu followed by finding the hole between the shortstop and third base to put two on for Nolan Arenado. The RBI machine did what he does best, getting an extra-base hit with runners on; a double to left that plated Blackmon and moved LeMahieu to third.

Trevor Story came through with a big one-out, ground-rule double to left, giving the Rockies an early 3-0 lead. The drive might have left the park if not for Story’s bat breaking or the thick San Diego air knocking down just about everything in this game.

In the second, the dynamic duo at the top of the lineup was at it again. Blackmon singled to center for the second straight at-bat and LeMahieu singled to right field this time. Once they moved up on a wild pitch, the intentional pass of Arenado became obvious and was so ordered.

Ian Desmond made the Padres pay for it, though, ripping a hard single up the middle, scoring a pair of runs, and putting the Rockies on top 5-0. On the play, Arenado was thrown out trying to take third base, in an homage to Tuesday night’s game.

The Padres broke up the shutout in the eighth with a little help from an odd play. Jake McGee replaced Gray and got a quick out before walking Jose Pirela. Carlos Asuaje then singled up the middle but it looked like McGee would escape any damage, inducing a ground ball to first. Ryan McMahon, who had entered in the seventh, made a good throw to second and Story returned to first but McGee—who potentially hasn’t attempted to make this play in a live game in a long time—whiffed on the catch attempt, allowing Pirela to score.

Bryan Shaw relieved McGee and San Diego added a second run on a single to center from Hunter Renfroe before Shaw put the inning away.

Wade Davis made his third appearance of the season and did the last thing he wanted; walking lead-off hitter Freddy Galvis. But he quickly induced a fly-out to left and a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and record his third consecutive save.

Final Stats:

Jon Gray: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

Jake McGee: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB

Bryan Shaw: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER

Wade Davis: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB

Charlie Blackmon: 2-for-5, 2 R

DJ LeMahieu: 2-for-5, 2 R

Nolan Arenado: 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2B

Ian Desmond: 2-for-4, 2 RBI,

Trevor Story: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, BB, 2B

What’s Next:

The Rockies wrap up their four-game set in San Diego with an afternoon contest on Thursday. Tyler Anderson takes on Joey Lucchesi in a battle of lefties. First pitch is at 1:40 MDT.