Ian Desmond breaks things open for Rockies in rout of San Diego

Things have been a little close for comfort lately for the Colorado Rockies. Close atop the NL West, where a total of 1.0 games between them separated the Rockies, Dodgers and Diamondbacks. Close in the outcome of their last two games, each a three-run decision. Close as in the three run lead they held entering the seventh inning against San Diego on Saturday. But with one swing of the bat, Ian Desmond made things a whole lot more comfortable in Colorado’s eventual 10-1 win.

Desmond smacked a first-pitch fastball from Jose Torres in the seventh into the left field bleachers at Petco Park, clearing the bases of Rockies and giving Colorado an 8-1 lead. The Rockies touched three San Diego pitchers for runs, including four off Padres starter and former Rockie Jhoulys Chacin. Two of those came courtesy of a two-run Nolan Arenado blast in the fifth inning. Gerardo Parra had a pair of hits and a pair of walks to stay hot. DJ LeMahieu had three hits, two RBIs and scored a pair of runs. Tyler Chatwood even helped his own cause with a double, a single and two runs scored.

On the mound, Chatwood was more Jeckyll than Hyde this time out. After a rough last outing, Chatwood put together a solid 8.0 innings. He allowed one run on four hits and one walk. He pounded the strike zone, setting down eight Padres on the day. San Diego’s Austin Hedges homered for the third consecutive game, a solo shot off Chatwood in the fifth. Jordan Lyles worked a clean ninth to close things out.

With the win, Colorado moved to 35-23 on the season and back atop the NL West, at least temporarily. Los Angeles reclaimed sole possession with a win in Milwaukee later in the afternoon. The Rockies and Padres meet on Sunday for the ninth and final time this season. It is not only a rubber match in this three-game series, but the rubber match for the season. Each team is 4-4 through eight games head-to-head. Tyler Anderson (3-5, 5.85 ERA) is scheduled to pitch the finale, but there were conflicting reports shortly before Saturday’s game that Anderson might not make the start.