Matt Kemp crushes 2 at Coors as Trevor Story's HR streak comes to end
DENVER — The San Diego Padres didn't panic after becoming the first team in major league history to get shut out in its first three games -- they were coming to hitter-friendly Coors Field, after all.
"A lot of guys like hitting here," Matt Kemp said after homering twice and tying a career-high with six RBIs in the Padres' 16-3 rout of the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.
The Padres also ended Trevor Story's home run streak at four games to start his big league career.
After beginning the season with a major league record 30-inning scoreless skid, the Padres have scored 29 runs in their last 15 innings. That's the most they've ever scored over a two-game span, besting the 28 runs they piled up against Pittsburgh from Aug. 5-6, 2011.
"I guess it's kind of feast or famine right now," manager Andy Green said. "But we'll get to normal baseball here at some point."
"He clearly likes hitting here at Coors Field," Green said.
Drew Pomeranz (1-0) gave up two runs and four hits in five innings. He struck out seven, including Story twice in picking up the win against his former team.
Story, who has gone deep six times since making his debut on opening day, was the first major leaguer to homer in each of his first four games. That run ended with a 1-for-5, three-strikeout performance; the shortstop also made his first error.
"I enjoyed it. I think mostly the games we won," Story said. "I didn't really enjoy them that much when we lost. Yeah, it was cool."
Story said having the homer streak behind him was actually a good thing.
"Yeah, I guess so. I wouldn't say I was putting pressure on myself to do that but yeah it's kind of a relief," he said.
Kemp admired Story's power at the plate Friday when the newcomer homered twice. On Saturday, it was Kemp's turn to put on a show.
Hey, Matt Kemp's batting. Here's what he did last time... pic.twitter.com/SHTyy5ygWD
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) April 10, 2016
Kemp's solo shot to left in the third inning traveled 448 feet and his three-run shot in the fourth over the newly raised fences in the right field alley went 428 feet. Both came off lefty Jorge De La Rosa (0-1), who was tagged for seven earned runs in four innings in a rare Coors Field fiasco and left the clubhouse without speaking to reporters.
Kemp has homered seven times off De La Rosa and 39 times in his career against Colorado. It was Kemp's eighth career multihomer game and his fourth against the Rockies but first for San Diego.
A day after going 4 for 6 with a homer and four RBIs, Kemp went 3 for 5 and scored twice.
"I've played here a lot, so I'm very familiar with it," Kemp said. "Playing with the Dodgers, a lot of games have been played here. I see the ball well. I like it and hopefully I can continue hit well here. It's a good backdrop."
Cory Spangenberg also hit a three-run homer off De La Rosa in the six-run fourth. Kemp added a two-run single off Jason Gurka in the sixth, and Wil Myers hit the longest homer of the night, a 453-footer off Chad Qualls in a six-run ninth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: 3B Yangervis Solarte strained his right hamstring running down the line after hitting a single into the left-center gap leading off the fourth. He was replaced by Adam Rosales and helped to the dugout. Green said a decision on whether to put Solart on the DL will be made Sunday "but obviously when you've got to help a guy off the field, it wasn't a good situation for him."
Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (abdominal strain) will make his rehab start for Class A Modesto on Sunday. He was supposed to pitch Saturday but rain forced the Rockies to reschedule. It's likely he'll need two rehab starts before returning from the DL.
UP NEXT
Padres: With Ross going on the DL, the Padres will start RHP James Shields (0-1, 4.50) in the series finale.
Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis (0-0. 8.44 ERA) takes the mound at Coors Field.
