McMahon, LeMahieu deliver in 9th
SAN DIEGO» Rockies rookie Ryan McMahon wants to contribute any way he can. He did so in unconventional fashion Thursday afternoon in a 3-1 victory over the Padres.
He drew a four-pitch, basesloaded walk off Padres closer Brad Hand in the top of the ninth, breaking a scoreless tie and cracking the door open for a late rally.
“It feels good to finally help,” said McMahon, who collected his first RBI of the season. “I hadn’t really done much to help the team, so it feels good to get a win here.”
Manager Bud Black was not surprised to see McMahon deliver.
“Even during spring training, I saw ‘Mac’ show some good plate discipline,” Black said.
After walking McMahon, Hand whiffed Charlie Blackmon but then allowed a two-run single to DJ LeMahieu.
“I was just looking for something over the plate,” LeMahieu said. “Once we got that run across, it felt like we could finally take some deep breaths. I was just happy to get a ball over the plate and put the ball in play. I definitely didn’t want to let (Hand) off the hook right there.”
Bullish.
Colorado’s bullpen continues to lock down games. Righthander Adam Ottavino pitched two scoreless innings, giving up one hit and striking out two. He has not been scored upon in four games (five innings), while fanning 10 and walking only one.
Closer Wade Davis nailed down his fourth save in four chances, despite giving up a solo home run to Manuel Margot in the ninth. It was the first hit allowed this season by Davis, who settled down and struck out Eric Hosmer and Hunter Renfroe to end the game. Davis is carrying a 2.70 ERA.
“Otto did a great job today and Wade closed it out,” Black said. “Those guys are in a good place.”
Footnotes.
Blackmon, who on Wednesday signed an $108 million contract, has batted 10-for-25 (.400) over his last six games after an 0-for-4 start. He had two of the Rockies’ four hits Thursday and stole his first base of the season. … LeMahieu is hitting .322 in his career against the Padres and had multihit performances in three of the four games in the series in San Diego.