Kyle Kendrick. (Ben Margot, The Associated Press)
PADRES 7, ROCKIES 5
At Peoria Stadium
PEORIA, Ariz. — The Rockies’ big offseason pitching acquisition threw against the Padres’ big signing Friday night at Peoria Stadium. It was likely one of several this season.
And Kyle Kendrick, Colorado’s $5.5 million arm, walked off in better shape than James Shields, San Diego’s $75 million man.
Kendrick gave three runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. He threw 81 pitches (50 for strikes) but a big chunk came in his final inning. Shields also went 4 1/3, with three runs and six hits. He threw 95 pitches (65 strikes).
“I’m not a power pitcher. I pitch to contact,” Kendrick said. “Hopefully, I get some early outs.”
Kendrick saw a lot of contact — through three, he allowed 15 batted balls — but the Padres scored just two runs (one earned). And by the time Kendrick came out for the fifth, the Rockies had a 5-2 lead.
“First couple innings, I got behind in the count. That’s why my pitch count got up,” Kendrick said. “I was trying to get to five (innings). But you’ve got to battle back.
“I’ve just got to keep battling. That’s my thing,” he said.
HITS
Charlie Blackmon, hitting leadoff, reached base in his first three trips to the plate and he scored twice. But Shields didn’t let him do it easily. In the first, Shields threw to first five times trying to pick-off Blackmon. His snap move nearly caught Blackmon. But the fifth try got by first baseman Yonder Aloson and Blackmon scampered to second. … Troy Tulowitzki took two long at-bats against Shields in the first and third, seeing 11 total pitches on a strikeout and a fly out. On his third trip, Tulowitzki singled a line drive to right field, then scored on Tim Wheeler’s two-RBI single.
MISSES
with a a sore left knee in the fourth inning, a worrisome setback for the Rockies’ star right fielder.
PITCHING COMPETITION
Jon Gray, the Rockies’ highly touted pitching prospect, will start Saturday’s Cactus League game against the Chicago Cubs, replacing left-hander Tyler Matzek.
It may be a clue about the Rockies’ plans for Gray. He is now lined up, with a regular five-day rotation, to start the Rockies’ second game of the season, April 7 at Milwaukee.
Matzek is lined up for Colorado’s home opener April 10 against the Cubs.
Weiss would not confirm thatap his plan. But when asked whether he would be willing to start three right-handers against the Brewers — Kyle Kendrick, Gray and Jordan Lyles — the manager smiled and said: “No, I wouldn’t have a problem with that.”
Eddie Butler and Christian Bergman also are in the mix for a slot in the starting rotation.
UP NEXT
Gray starts for the Rockies at Sloan Park in Mesa against Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta at 2 p.m. MT. The game airs on Root TV
Tags: Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon, Christian Bergman, James Shields, Jon Gray, Kyle Kendrick, Padres, Tyler Matzek
