Kazuo Matsui hit a two-run homer and the Rockies used a bevy of relievers after starter Elmer Dessens left with an injury in a 10-4 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
After Dessens’ departure in the third inning, the Rockies used nine relievers. The 10 total pitchers set an National League record for a nine-inning game, and the most since the Baltimore Orioles used 10 against the New York Yankees on Sept. 12, 2004.
The Rockies closed within three games of the wild card-leading Padres and remained five games back of Arizona in the NL West.
Colorado hasn’t been this close to the division leader this late in the season since 1997.
Dessens was pitching to save his job after a forgettable start against the Diamondbacks his last time out. Manager Clint Hurdle considered using a string of relievers instead of Dessens.
Hurdle had to follow that plan anyway.
The right-hander left after straining his left hamstring on a pitch to Brian Giles. It was a group effort after that, and Matt Herges (4-0) earned the win after giving up no hits in 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
Ramon Ortiz became the 10th Colorado pitcher to enter the game, working the ninth in a nonsave situation.
The Rockies used 10 hurlers against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 30, 2006, in a game that went 14 innings.
The Rockies broke open a tight game with five runs on six hits in the eighth inning.
Troy Tulowitzki had two doubles, scored twice and drove in two runs. He is hitting .364 since Aug. 7, raising his season average to .293.
The Padres’ Brian Myrow drove in his first career run with a pinch-hit double in the fourth. Adrian Gonzalez had a two-out, two-run single in the third to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. He also had an RBI groundout in the seventh.
