DENVER—Kaz Matsui hit a two-run homer and the Colorado Rockies used a bevy of relievers after starter Elmer Dessens left with an injury in a 10-4 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
After Dessens’ departure in the third inning, the Rockies used nine relievers. The 10 total pitchers was a 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 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 non-save 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 once and drove in two runs. He’s hitting .364 since Aug. 7, raising his season average to .293.
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.
Milton Bradley left the game in the seventh with an undisclosed injury after fouling off an inside pitch from LaTroy Hawkins.
The Rockies scored two runs in the first when Willy Taveras led off with his major league-leading 36th bunt hit. Matsui followed with a two-run homer to right that hit the top of the fence. It was Matsui’s fourth of the season, and first since July 8 against Philadelphia.
Matsui later stole his 30th base of the season.
Justin Germano (7-9) went three innings, giving up five runs and six hits. He hasn’t won on the road since July 15 at Arizona, and has allowed 11 runs over nine innings in two starts at Coors Field this season.
The Rockies improved to 30-11 at Coors Field since June 2, the best home record in the majors over that span.
Notes:@ 2B Marcus Giles (sprained left knee) will be activated Sunday. … The Rockies purchased the contract of LHP Mark Redman from Triple-A Colorado Springs earlier in the day. Redman pitched a third of an inning, walking two and giving up a run. … The Rockies have used a franchise-record 29 pitchers this season. … Colorado is 11-5 following an off day.
