SAN DIEGO — The Rockies’ 3-1 loss to the Padres wasn’t painless, but at least it was quick.
Sunday afternoon’s game at Petco Park featured just eight combined hits and took only 2 hours, 3 minutes to complete, the Rockies’ quickest nine-inning game since 2008. The teams split the four-game series to open the season.
Colorado received a quality start from lefty Austin Gomber, piggybacking on quality starts from German Marquez and Kyle Freeland in the first two games of the series. Sunday, however, San Diego’s Seth Lugo bested Gomber.
“A lot of times if I (pitch like) that, we are going to win a lot of these games,” Gomber said. “Unfortunately, Lugo was really good today. So you have to tip your cap to him. But I feel good with where I’m at.”
Colorado’s lone run came on a one-out homer by Ryan McMahon in the seventh off of Lugo. Aside from that, the Rockies’ offense was quiet, managing just four total hits and striking out 10 times.
“Lugo had a really good curveball, really ‘depthy,’ ” McMahon said. “He threw his fastball well and that made it more difficult.”
McMahon scuffled in the first three games of the series (2 for 13) before he finally connected on Sunday.
“That (homer) felt good but I wish it had come in the first inning when we had men on base,” McMahon said, looking back at his line drive out to center that ended the inning after Kris Bryant and Charlie Blackmon both singled off of Lugo.
Colorado received six workmanlike innings from Gomber, but two pitches cost him the game.
The lefty breezed through the first two innings, setting the Padres down in order and striking out three. But the Padres hammered him for three runs in the third on home runs by Trent Grisham and Xander Bogaerts.
Grisham ripped a one-out, solo shot to right on Gomber’s 89.6 mph two-seam fastball. Jose Azocar then reached on an infield single to third baseman Elehuris Montero, who was slow getting to the roller and had to rush his throw. Azocar trotted home on Bogaerts’ 413-foot homer to left. Bogaerts blasted Gomber’s 2-0 changeup.
“It was a well-pitched game, we just got out-pitched,” manager Bud Black said. “The hanging changeup to Bogaerts was the back-breaker. But I’m very proud of ‘Gomby.’ He threw the ball really well. He used all of his pitches, changed speeds and did what we think he can do, which is a good sign.”
Gomber, back in the rotation after being relegated to the bullpen last July, struck out four over his six innings, gave up just four hits, and walked only one, but the Padres’ two big swings sunk him. He wished he could have his pitch to Bogaerts back.
“I would throw something that stays in the park, for sure,” Gomber said. “That was the one pitch today where I kind of lost my aggression and floated one up there. Obviously, if you throw a pitch up there to a hitter like him, that’s the kind of results you’re going to get.”
Lugo, the former Mets reliever, dominated the Rockies for seven innings. Making his Padres debut, he allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked none. McMahon’s homer stood as his one big mistake pitch.
The Rockies next head to Los Angeles for a two-game series beginning Monday before an off day on Wednesday followed by their home opener on Thursday at Coors Field.
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