Rodgers' grand slam sparks Rockies over Padres 7
DENVER (AP) — Brendan Rodgers hit a go-ahead grand slam in a five-run fourth inning, and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 7-4 on Tuesday night for just their second win in 10 games.
Colorado trailed 4-1 before Rodgers’ first career slam, a drive into the left-field bleachers on an up-and-in fastball from Michael King (2-2) with an 0-2 count. Rodgers had not homered since Sept. 29 — he hit all four of his homers last year in a 10-day span.
“Bases loaded, 0-2 count. We’re going, ‘Come on, B!’” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “And he got the head on a fastball. Big exhale. The dugout was pumped. That was big, and you hope that these types of moments can give us a jumpstart.”
Rodgers said he was relieved to come through in that situation and give his struggling team a lift.
“You know, (Ryan McMahon) came up to me and said, ‘That’s one of the biggest swings of the year,’’' Rodgers said. “And it kind of felt like it, being down early and then getting guys on base in that inning. I got down in the count and then I took a good short, two-strike swing. It definitely was a good feeling.”