Cease allows 1 hit over 7 innings to pitch Padres past scuffling Rockies 3-1 at Coors Field

DENVER (AP) — Dylan Cease permitted one hit in seven innings and pinch-hitter Tyler Wade singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth, sending the San Diego Padres to a 3-1 victory over the struggling Colorado Rockies on Monday night.

Cease (3-1) struck out eight and walked none. The only baserunner he allowed in a 90-pitch outing was Charlie Blackmon's leadoff double in the fourth.

“In control was the best way of saying it,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “Everything was coming out clean, it was going where he wanted to throw it, it was filthy. It was just dominant stuff.”

Acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a March 13 trade, the right-hander lowered his ERA to 1.82 — his best mark through five outings in six major league seasons.

“He’s electric,” Padres rookie outfielder Jackson Merrill said. “I’m very thankful we acquired him through the trade. I lost some friends to that, but it’s so worth it. He’s disgusting.”

Luis Campusano had two hits for the Padres and scored the go-ahead run. San Diego has won 10 of the past 12 meetings between the NL West rivals dating to last April.

With runners at the corners in the ninth, Robert Suarez got Ryan McMahon to ground into a game-ending double play for his eighth save.

Colorado lost for the eighth time in nine games and dropped to 5-18, the worst record in the National League.

Nick Mears (0-2) gave up both Padres runs in the eighth.

Campusano doubled with two outs and scored when Wade singled to right field, barely beating a tag at the plate. Wade went to second on the throw home and scored on Merrill's single to make it 3-1.

“We’ve shown a lot of resilience late in games,” Cease said. “For me, it was just hold them as long as I could and give them a chance to bring it home, which they did.”

Jurickson Profar, who played 111 games last season for the Rockies before being released, had a two-out RBI single for San Diego in the third.

The Rockies have trailed in each of their 23 games this season, becoming the first team since the 1931 Cincinnati Reds to earn that ignominious distinction.

Colorado has scored only 12 runs in the past eight games. The Rockies have three or fewer runs in six consecutive home games, setting a franchise record.

“At some point, it’s got to turn where we’ve got to get the bat to the ball and get some big hits,” manager Bud Black said. “There’s really no secret. We’ve got to do a better job.”

McMahon’s team-leading 13th RBI came on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: Placed 3B Manny Machado on the paternity list and recalled INF Matthew Batten from Triple-A El Paso. Shildt said he expects Machado, a six-time All-Star, to be away from the team for the first three games of the series in Colorado.

Rockies: Gold Glove CF Brenton Doyle returned to the lineup after missing the second game of a doubleheader Sunday against Seattle with a bruised chest.

UP NEXT

Colorado RHP Ryan Feltner (1-2, 5.06 ERA) faces San Diego RHP Michael King (2-1, 3.33) on Tuesday.

Colorado Rockies' Sean Bouchard follows the flight of his double off San Diego Padres pitcher Robert Suarez in the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Enyel De Los Santos works against the Colorado Rockies in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

San Diego Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, right, is congratulated by third baseman Tyler Wade, left, after a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Ryan McMahon reacts after grounding into a double play against San Diego Padres relief pitcher Robert Suarez to end the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

From left, San Diego Padres left fielder José Azocar, center fielder Jackson Merrill and right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. celebrate after a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Brenton Doyle reacts after striking out against San Diego Padres relief pitcher Dylan Cease to end the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Ryan McMahon (24) reacts after striking out against San Diego Padres relief pitcher Dylan Cease in the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease works against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nolan Arenado drove in three runs, Sonny Gray gave up three hits in seven innings and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago White Sox 3-0 on Friday night.

Gray (4-1) walked one and struck out five in his longest outing of the season as the Cardinals snapped a two-game losing streak. Gray retired the last eight and 13 of the final 14 batters he faced.

The White Sox lost their fourth game in a row. It was the ninth time they were shut out this season.

JoJo Romero pitched a perfect eighth and Ryan Helsley retired all three batters he faced in the ninth to earn his 11th save in 12 opportunities.

Arenado’s two-run double gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the first inning. It was Arenado’s first multi-RBI game since April 21.

He doubled again in the fifth to score Willson Contreras and make it 3-0. The hit knocked White Sox starter Brad Keller from the game.

Contreras had three hits, walked, stole a base and scored twice.

Keller (0-1) allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings. He gave up five hits, walked two and struck out five.

Jared Shuster pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the White Sox.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: INF Danny Mendick was scratched from the lineup due to lower back tightness.

Cardinals: LHP Steven Matz (lower back strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to May 1 and RHP Kyle Leahy was recalled from Triple-A Memphis.

UP NEXT

RHP Lance Lynn (1-0, 2.64 ERA) will start for the Cardinals against RHP Erick Fedde (2-0, 2.60 ERA) on Saturday. Lynn, who pitched for the White Sox from 2001-03, is making his 10th career start against Chicago but first since 2019 as a member of the Texas Rangers. Fedde is coming off a career-high 8 1/3 innings in his last outing against Tampa Bay on Sunday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

St. Louis Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar makes a catch against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Brad Keller delivers against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray delivers against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado (28) run the bases after hitting a two-run double against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)