SAN DIEGO — They have only one player hitting over .300, which is reason enough the Padres should lose. That they have little power and relievers who wouldn’t be recognized without two forms of ID are two more good reasons they shouldn’t be any good.
Yet here they are perched atop the National League West, showing annoying resiliency. In many ways, the Padres are like the 2007 Rockies: overlooked, misunderstood and driven by something to prove.
But the current Colorado group doesn’t seem eager to cede its patent on magical seasons. Clint Barmes and Carlos Gonzalez took the slipper off the Padres’ foot and beat them over the head with it, clubbing two monstrous home runs in the Rockies’ 6-3 victory Tuesday night.
“We are going to hit,” Gonzalez said. “You look at the talent in this clubhouse, and the opportunity is there for us to get it going.”
The win pulled the Rockies to within four games of the division-leading Padres.
Colorado arrived at the proverbial pitchfork in the road this week. Lose the series or, worse, get broomed and the Rockies would have a difficult time digging out of a hole. They have pitched well enough to be a contender — a 3.80 ERA — the season made puzzling by a stream of injuries and an underwhelming offense.
What played out at Petco Park was further evidence the lineup is finally gaining traction. If nothing else, it allowed the Rockies to overcome Melvin Mora’s adventure at first base (an error, three dives, a missed scoop, perfect throw home and a partridge in a pear tree).
“We are going to have to find some Super Glue for his foot to keep it on the bag,” Tracy said. “We’re asking him to do something he doesn’t have a lot of experience with. It can get your heart pumping a little bit.”
Mora started in place of Todd Helton, who is expected to play today after giving his back some needed rest.
The Rockies have produced 44 runs, 77 hits and 12 home runs over the past seven games, five of which have come on the road.
Barmes provided the critical swing, smashing a slider from reliever Edward Mujica into the left-field seats in the seventh inning, a three-run shot that gave Colorado a 4-1 lead. Barmes’ ninth-inning single gave the Rockies margin for error, pushing them ahead 5-3.
“When you look at his average in relation to his RBIs, it tells you that he’s gotten a lot of big hits, that he’s made the most of his hits this season. He’s come up big for us,” Tracy said of Barmes, who has a team-high 12 RBIs against the Padres this season.
Colorado scored first on Gonzalez’s missile.
The Padres got back in the game with three runs in the seventh when Ian Stewart muffed a foul popup and Ryan Spilborghs couldn’t field a blooper on the left-field chalk line. It took four pitchers — Jason Hammel (six innings, three runs), Randy Flores, Joe Beimel and Matt Belisle — to record three outs.
Belisle stopped the insanity by striking out Scott Hairston with the tying run at third base.
Huston Street pitched a clean ninth for his first save since Oct. 8.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
TODAY: Rockies at Padres, 1:35 p.m., FSN, KOA 850 AM
Rockies lefty Jeff Francis (2-2, 3.53 ERA) has been as reliable as a pair of jeans or a pickup. That’s not an easy task when returning from an injury. But he’s pitched at least six innings in six of his eight startsand he’s been nails during the day, going 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA. Francis gives the Rockies stability, and their rotation a playoff feel when Jorge De La Rosa returns next week. Francis has muzzled Adrian Gonzalez (4-for-26). One of the Rockies said last week that San Diego’s Clayton Richard (5-4, 2.75) is just as difficult to hit as Red Sox lefty Jon Lester. If Todd Helton is healthy, he will play (5-for-11). Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Thursday: Giants’ Madison Bumgarner (0-1, 5.14 ERA) at Rockies’ Aaron Cook (2-5, 4.69), 6:40 p.m., FSN
Friday: Giants’ Tim Lincecum (8-3, 3.13) at Rockies’ Jhoulys Chacin (4-7, 3.51), 6:10 p.m., FSN
Saturday: Giants’ Barry Zito (7-4, 3.43) at Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (14-1, 1.83), 6:10 p.m., FSN
Sunday: Giants’ Matt Cain (6-6, 2.72) at Rockies’ Jason Hammel (5-3, 4.31), 1:10 p.m., FSN
