Scoring runs have come at a costly premium for the Colorado Rockies lately. Yet, a five-run fourth inning was the type of spark they needed as they snapped a six-game losing streak with a 7-4 victory over the San Diego  Padres on Tuesday.

Trailing 4-1 in the fourth inning, the Rockies loaded the bases against Padres starter Michael King after Elehuris Montero singled, Nolan Jones reached via an error and Brenton Doyle singled. Brendan Rodgers fell behind 0-2 against King before launching a four-seam fastball to deep left field for a grand slam, the first of his career, to give the Rockies a 5-4 lead at the time that they would not surrender.

🚨 BROD FIRST CAREER GRAND SLAM 🚨 pic.twitter.com/7pTQyFrHLV

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 24, 2024

The Rockies fell into trouble early as they have now gone 24 consecutive games in which they trailed after the Padres quickly strung together a lead-off walk and a couple of singles and a sacrifice fly to take an early 2-0 lead against Ryan Feltner. The Rockies would answer back in the bottom of the second after Nolan Jones, in the midst of a 0-for-24 hitless streak, blooped a single to left field to score Elias Diaz who had walked to start the inning.

The Padres tacked on two more runs in the top of the third inning with two outs after Luis Campusano laced a double to center field to score Ha-Seong Kim and would subsequently score on a Jackon Merrill single to give the Friars a 4-1 lead.

That would be it for the Friars as the Rockies would take the lead with their five-run fourth inning after sending 10 hitters to the plate and added an insurance run in the fifth thanks to an Ezequiel Tovar RBI single to score Brenton Doyle.

The Padres totaled 12 hits against the Rockies 13 hits. The main difference was that the Rockies had five extra-base hits while the Padres just had one. Jake Cronenworth led the night going 3-for-4 for the Padres while Fernando Tatis Jr., Kim, and Merrill had two hits apiece.

For the Rockies, every starter had a hit with Montero leading the way with a three-hit night followed by multi-hit performances from Tovar and Doyle. A key for the offense was drawing four walks against nine strikeouts.

Feltner was not crisp in his start on the mound as the Padres made him labor early on. Unable to generate any swings and misses, Feltner surrendered four runs on 10 hits but was able to get four strikeouts against two walks but ended up throwing 93 pitches. It was Jalen Beeks out of the bullpen that saved the Rockies as they prepare for a likely bullpen game on Wednesday. Beeks continued his strong start to the season by tossing three hitless innings to earn the victory. He tallied two strikeouts against one walk and lowered to a 2.25 ERA on the season. Crisp innings from Jake Bird and Justin Lawrence who earned his first save of the year secured the victory for the Rockies.

Michael King lasted just 3 2/3 innings for the Padres, giving up six runs, four earned, on eight hits with five strikeouts and three walks. The Rockies were able to get after his changeup and got their damage done when they could before the Padres turned to their bullpen. A trio of relievers for the Padres allowed just one run on five runs the rest of the game, allowing just one walk.

Up next

Because of the doubleheader last Sunday, the Rockies will have to rely on a bullpen day on Wednesday. Ty Blach, who was added to the roster on Sunday, has been working as a starter in Triple-A and is likely to get the nod as the bulk starter. The Padres will send the knuckleballer Matt Waldron to the mound who allowed five runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays in his last start.