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)

DETROIT (AP) — Byron Buxton hit a home run and a double, Christian Vázquez had a homer and three hits and the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 9-3 on Friday night.

“I think everybody put something on the table to win this game,” said Vázquez, who has three of his five homers this season against the Tigers. “When I swing at pitches at zone, I get different results. I feel good and I have confidence in myself.”

Pablo López (9-7) allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out seven.

“A lot of my stuff got better toward the end of my outing,” he said.

Tigers starter Keider Montero (1-4) allowed six runs on eight hits in five innings.

With only three healthy starters, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch had to stay with Montero even after he allowed three homers in the first two innings.

“He was going to be out there,” Hinch said. “It's not easy right now — we have been putting together some bullpen games and there are some on the horizon, so Keider had a long leash. With three solo homers, we were still in the game.”

Buxton and Trevor Larnach gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead with back-to-back homers in the first, and Matt Wallner added a home run in the second.

Javier Báez hit his second homer in as many days to make it 3-2 in the third.

“I'm feeling good at the plate,” said Báez, who is hitting .179 with three homers. “I've been working a lot to play better, and if I can stay hot, I can have a big second half.”

The Twins regained control with three runs in the fourth.

Willi Castro knocked in two with a single to left and took a big turn around the bag, prompting second baseman Colt Keith to throw to first. The Tigers were wearing their black City Connect jerseys and the only person wearing that color at first was umpire Mike Muchlinski. Keith's throw sailed into Minnesota's dugout, allowing Castro to take third. He scored on Buxton's double to left.

“That's a tough inning when we've got two out, especially after (Báez) gets us back into the game with the homer,” Hinch said. “I haven't talked to Colt, but I think that's down to inexperience — I don't think Bligh (Madris) needed to travel with the runner. He could have stayed (at first), which is probably why he was trying to get back.”

Vázquez hit a two-run homer off Joey Wentz to make it 8-2 in the sixth.

The Tigers loaded the bases with no one out in the seventh, but Gio Urshela grounded into a force at the plate before Báez and Wenceel Pérez popped out.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Twins: Activated 3B Royce Lewis (adductor strain) from the injured list and optioned C Jair Carmago to Triple-A St. Paul. Lewis came into the game hitting .292 with 10 homers and 18 RBIs in 24 games.

Tigers: Placed All-Star OF Riley Greene (hamstring) on the injured list and recalled UTL Ryan Vilade from Triple-A Toledo. Greene has been injured in each of his first three seasons, limiting him to 293 games.

UP NEXT

The teams play the second game of the series on Saturday, with Tigers ace LHP Tarik Skubal (11-3, 2.34) facing Minnesota RHP Joe Ryan (6-6, 3.65).

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

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton misplays the double hit by Detroit Tigers' Matt Vierling during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Minnesota Twins pitcher Caleb Thielbar throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Minnesota Twins' Christian Vazquez (8) is greeted at home plate after a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Joey Wentz throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Will Vest throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Tigers' Javier Baez is greeted at home plate by Carson Kelly after Baez's two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Joey Wentz throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Joey Wentz walks next to the mound as Minnesota Twins' Christian Vazquez rounds the bases after a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Minnesota Twins' Christian Vazquez is greeted in the dugout after a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton misplays the double hit by Detroit Tigers' Matt Vierling during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton approaches home plate after a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)