Major League Baseball

Dickerson's solo homer lifts Rockies to 2-1 win over Padres

Published Apr. 23, 2015 6:15 p.m. ET

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DENVER (AP) Corey Dickerson's left heel has flared up along with his power.

Even he is a little baffled by the correlation.

Dickerson hit a go-ahead home run leading off the fifth inning and Jordan Lyles pitched effectively into the seventh, helping the Colorado Rockies to a 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

Dickerson connected for his third solo shot in two days despite playing with pain caused by plantar fasciitis. Dickerson, who scored both runs, was removed in the eighth when the Rockies made a double switch. He said it was purely for precautionary reasons.

''I'm not too worried about it,'' said Dickerson, who didn't start Tuesday because of his bothersome foot. ''I just try to put it in the back of my mind.''

His homer off Tyson Ross (1-1) was a big lift on a day when runs were scarce. This was the 25th time a game at Coors Field ended in a 2-1 score, according to the Rockies.

Lyles (2-1) adjusted his mechanics for this start, resisting the urge to fall toward the first-base side when he uncorked his fastball. That led to better control as he shut down one of baseball's top-hitting teams, allowing one run and six hits in 6 2-3 innings.

''Overall, I thought we made great strides and effort of limiting mistakes - walks and unnecessary walks - that I've had earlier this season,'' Lyles explained.

Ross struggled with his command but found ways to minimize the damage. He surrendered two runs in five innings, then was pulled after 106 pitches. He walked four and struck out seven as he fell to 0-5 against Colorado.

''He threw some pitches that I thought from the side looked real close,'' Padres manager Bud Black said. ''Some real borderline pitches that didn't go his way. But at the end of the day he gave us a chance to win, even though he wasn't at the top of his game.''

Yonder Alonso kept up his hot hitting with three singles, including one in the fourth that drove in San Diego's run.

Lyles had runners on first and second with two outs in the seventh, when he was pulled for Scott Oberg. Recently recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque, Oberg struck out pinch-hitter Justin Upton with a 95-mph fastball to end the threat.

AXFORD'S BIG DAY

John Axford struck out Alexi Amarista to end the game and earn his second save. But that wasn't the highlight.

Earlier in the day, his 2-year-old son Jameson had a procedure on his right foot that ''went well.'' His son was bitten twice by a rattlesnake last month in the yard of the house his family rented in Scottsdale, Arizona, for spring training. Jameson recently returned home after spending four weeks in the hospital for treatment.

''Now that my son is home, we get to spend some quality time together,'' Axford said.

WHO'S ON FIRST

With Justin Morneau getting a breather and Wilin Rosario optioned to Albuquerque on Wednesday, the Rockies were in a predicament at first base. They had versatile infielder Daniel Descalso start at the spot for the fourth time in his big league career.

Solid most of the day, Descalso struggled with his footwork on a pivotal play in the fourth. DJ LeMahieu stopped Matt Kemp's grounder up the middle with two outs and Descalso couldn't quite keep his foot on the bag when he caught the throw. Alonso lined an RBI single to left that brought home Kemp to tie it at 1-apiece.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: Ian Kennedy (strained left hamstring) is to start Saturday against Los Angeles. Odrisamer Despaigne returns to the bullpen. ... Black kept Upton out of the starting lineup so he could rest his sore left quadriceps.

Rockies: Manager Walt Weiss no longer holds his breath in fear of a possible injury when shortstop Troy Tulowitzki dives for a ball or stretches a single into a double. ''I think it's because I'm getting used to him running around like his old self,'' Weiss said of Tulowitzki, who played in 91 games last season before having hip surgery.

UP NEXT

Padres: RHP Andrew Cashner (1-2, 2.65) takes the mounds Friday as the Padres return home for a three-games series with Los Angeles. Righty Zack Greinke (2-0, 1.83) goes for the Dodgers.

Rockies: Righty Eddie Butler (2-1, 2.25) opens a three-game set against San Francisco. The Giants counter with righty Chris Heston (2-1, 0.87).

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