Colorado snaps losing streak, beats S.D.

ROCKIES 6, PADRES 4

After batters were plunked, punches were thrown, players were tossed and the dust finally cleared, the Rockies emerged with a much-needed 6-4 victory over San Diego Wednesday afternoon at Coors Field.

Now the Rockies, 6-7, head to Washington for a four-game series beginning Thursday against the powerful Nationals.

A third-inning brawl resulted in the ejections of star third baseman Nolan Arenado, left fielder Gerardo Parra and starting pitcher German Marquez, but Colorado managed to squeeze out the victory to avoid a three-game sweep. The Padres have not swept a series in Denver since 2011.

Colorado, seemingly sparked by the fracas, scored five runs in the third. The big hits were an RBI single by Carlos Gonzalez and a two-run, bases-loaded single by catcher Tony Wolters, who emerged from a deep, early-season slump.

The Padres roared back for three runs in the sixth off of righthander Antonio Senzatela, who had replaced Marquez. Franchy Cordero led off the inning with a solo homer to center.

Colorado hiked its lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the frame on Ian Desmond’s sacrifice fly to score DJ LeMahieu, who led off with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Senzatela. LeMahieu, hitting leadoff in place of the injured Charlie Blackmon (right quadriceps strain), went 3for-5, hiking his average to .308.

A solo homer in the eighth by San Diego’s Eric Hosmer, who plastered a center-cut fastball from left-hander Jake McGee, cut the lead to 6-4. Closer Wade Davis pitched a perfect ninth, with two strikeouts, to record his fifth overall save, his first at Coors Field.