Major League Baseball

Stults pitches streaking Padres past Rockies 1-0

Published Sep. 23, 2014 9:54 a.m. ET

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SAN DIEGO (AP) Eric Stults is all too familiar with low-scoring games. Winning one was the surprising part.

Stults pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the San Diego Padres won their fifth straight overall by beating the Colorado Rockies 1-0 Monday night.

For the 12th time this season, the Padres scored no more than one run when Stults started. This was the first time he cashed it in for a victory.

''It was nice to get that early run and to go out there and try to make it stand up,'' Stults said.

Stults (8-17), tied with Philadelphia right-hander A.J. Burnett for the major league lead in losses, scattered seven hits and a walk over 6 1-3 innings in beating the Rockies for the first time this season following two defeats.

Kevin Quackenbush worked the ninth for his sixth save, ending Colorado's season-high, six-game winning streak.

San Diego went ahead in the first inning when Rene Rivera's double scored Jedd Gyorko, who walked. It was Rivera's fifth RBI and third double in four games.

Rockies starter Tyler Matzek (6-11) struck out eight in six innings. He allowed one run, four hits and three walks.

''He can do a variety of things,'' Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. ''He's got some weapons.''

To open the eighth, Padres left fielder Tommy Medica misplayed Justin Morneau's fly ball into a double, and Dale Thayer relieved Frank Garces. Thayer got Michael Cuddyer and Corey Dickerson to pop up and retired Michael McKenry on a fly to center.

''That was impressive, as his high fastball beat some of their bats,'' Padres manager Bud Black said. ''They couldn't get on top of the high heater.''

After DJ LeMahieu's one-out single in the seventh chased Stults, he was replaced by Nick Vincent. Pinch-hitter Drew Stubbs struck out and, after Charlie Blackmon singled, Vincent retired Josh Rutledge on a fly to right.

''The bullpen did a good job like it has all year,'' Stults said.

The Padres could have extended their 1-0 lead in the sixth when they loaded the bases with one out on Rivera's second hit and walks to Gyorko and Yasmani Grandal. Matzek, however, struck out Medica and Rymer Liriano.

The Rockies had an opportunity in the fifth inning when Blackmon walked with two outs to load the bases, following singles by Rafael Ynoa and LeMahieu. Stults struck out Rutledge on one his quickest fastballs, at 90 mph, to retire the side.

Stults wiggled out of trouble in the second after giving up one-out singles to Dickerson and McKenry. Ynoa popped up and LeMahieu struck out.

The Padres are 32-19 in one-run games, the best record in the majors.

''He's pitched a lot of games like this and didn't get the win,'' Black said of Stults. ''He got it today.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: RHP Tyson Ross, bothered by a sore right forearm, won't pitch again this year. His last start came at Arizona on Sept. 13 when he gave up six runs (four earned) and five hits in three innings.

UP NEXT

Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa (14-11, 4.61 ERA) will tie a career high Tuesday when he makes his 32nd start of the season, his second straight year with at least 30. He'll face Padres LHP Robbie Erlin (4-4, 4.53), who is looking for his second consecutive win as he makes his second start since May 17 at Colorado.

HOME SWEET HOME

With the win, the Padres tied their best showing at Petco Park with 47 victories. That matches the standard set by the 2007 club. The Padres will end their home schedule on Wednesday, after two more games with the Rockies.

NOT SO SWEET 16

It marked the 16th time in franchise history that the Rockies lost a 1-0 game, and the first since July 13 last season when the Dodgers beat them in Los Angeles. Of those 1-0 defeats, 13 have come on the road.

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