Carlos Gonzalez finally had the game he’d been waiting for. The struggling Rockies slugger knocked in three runs on a pair of hits in a 9-7 victory that ensured a series win over the San Diego Padres. The win was Colorado’s third in a row.
Heading into Tuesday’s tilt with the Padres, Gonzalez was hitting a meager .214 for the season with just 22 RBIs. He was 4-for-30 and did not have an extra-base hit in his last 10 games. A double in the fifth inning drove in a pair of runs and an RBI single in the sixth elicited a major display of emotion from the 31-year-old. Gonzalez finished the night 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored.
Gerardo Parra recorded an RBI in his eighth straight game since returning from the DL. He had three hits, two walks and three runs scored. Parra is now hitting .352 on the season.
Mark Reynolds hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning.
Antonio Senzatela (10-3, 4.67) allowed three runs in the first and another in the fifth, his final inning, in his first start since June 22 to earn the win. Chris Rusin had an uncharacteristically rough night, allowing two runs on three hits while only recording a pair of outs in the sixth.
A pair of errors – one by DJ LeMaheiu and one by Pat Valaika – in the seventh inning almost spelled doom for Jordan Lyles (who had allowed a leadoff home run in the inning), but Mark Reynolds turned a clutch double play to end the inning and preserve the lead. Valaika and Alexi Amarista, who each played third base during the game as Nolan Arenado had the night off, both had errors in the game. That matched Arenado’s total on the season in 92 defensive games played.
Greg Holland struck out the side in the ninth inning to earn his MLB-best 30th save on the season.
With the win, Colorado improved to 55-41 and within a half game of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the top spot in the National League Wild Card. Colorado will go for the sweep on Wednesday afternoon. Jon Gray is scheduled to start for the Rockies.