Things were looking real bad for the Padres as they were on the verge of handing away a three game lead to the Rockies right before the All-Star break without having to face either pitching ace Ubaldo Jiminez or slugger Todd Helton. But after dropping the first two games, the Padres gritted out a great comeback to take the victory in their first “must win” game so far in 2010. By beating the Colorado’s juggernaut offense in the final game the Padres avoided a sweep and preserved a two game lead in the National League Western Division with the mid-summer classic just two days away. The following is the roller-coaster ride in print  that was the Friars series at Coors Field the second weekend of July.

 July 9^th, 2010 Padres 8 Rockies 10

WP Matt Belisle (4-3) 1IP 1R 1ER 0BB 2K 1HR

LP Luke Gregerson (2-5) .67IP 1H 2R 2ER 1BB 1K 1HR

S Huston Street (4) 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 2K 0HR

Ian Stewart hit two homers and knocked in six runs to help Colorado beat San Diego 10-8 at Coors Field. The Padres led 3-0 and 8-5 before giving up 5 runs apiece in the third and seventh innings.

The game was lost by the Padres bullpen who going into the game led the majors with an ERA of 2.73.Ryan Webb gave up three consecutive single to Jonathon Herrara, Carlos Gonzalez and Jason Giambi. Giambi’s hit score Herrara and bought it to 8-6. Luke Gregerson came in and walked Miguel Olivo before Brad Hawpe earned the “golden sombrero” with his fourth strikeout of the game. But Gregerson left a ball over the plate that Stewart deposited in the left field stands to give the Rockies a 10-8 lead. It was Stewart’s third career slam and fourth multi-homerun game of his career.

Aaron Cunningham led all Padres with three hits and two RBI’s. Adrian Gonzalez scored twice and hit a two run home run in the third to go up 3-0.

July 10^th, 2010 Padres 4 Rockies 2

WP Jason Hammel (7-3) 6.33IP 5H 2R 2ER 2BB 4K 0HR

LP Wade LeBlanc (4-7) 5.67IP 9H 4R 4ER 2BB 5K 3HR

S Huston Street (5) 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 2K 0HR

Jason Hammel retired the first 12 Padres he faced and surrendered only five hits to pace Colorado 4-2 over the San Diego. Hammel was in control for most of the game before surrendering two runs in the seventh with a four run lead.

Yorvit Torealba singled to lead off the seventh inning. He scored from first on Aaron Cunningham’s double to the left-center gap. After a Chris Denorfia groundout, Everth Cabrera singled to shallow right scoring Cunningham. Pinch-hitter Tony Gwynn Jr. grounded into a double-play to end the inning. Gwynn has been out with a bruised heel climbing the centerfield wall trying to bring back a homerun.

All four of Colorado’s runs were driven in by balls clearing the outfield wall. Colorado first score was on a solo shot by Melvin Mora in the second inning followed by Carlos Gonzalez’s bases-empty round-tripper in the third. First baseman Brad Eldred hit a two-run big fly to put the Rockies up 4-0 at the end of the sixth.

July 11^th, 2010 Padres Rockies

WP Luke Gregerson (3-5) 1.33IP 1H 0R 0ER 1BB 1K 0HR

LP Mike Belisle (4-4) 1.67IP 2H 2R 0ER 1BB 2K 0HR

S Heath Bell (24) 1.33 1H 1R 1ER 1BB 1K 0HR

The San Diego Padres finally scored some runs with the bases loaded and Heath Bell got a four-out save as they held onto first place with a 9-7 win.

With the base loaded in the bottom of the eighth Nich Hundley hit a hard grounder that was snagged by pitcher Mike Belisle. Beslisle spun and threw the ball wild about three feet to Miguel Olivo’s right side allowing Jerry Hairston Jr. and Aaron Cunningham to score. Cunningham took advantage of the fact nobody was covering home plate to score the go-ahead run.

Heat Bell came in for Mike Adams with two out in the eighth when Adams left with what would later be revealed as a strained oblique. There was no news on a timetable for his return. Bell retired the first three batters he faced before walking Jonathon Herrara in the ninth. Herrara took second on a fielder’s indifference and then scored on Carlos Gonzalez’s RBI single cosing it to 9-7. He would strikeout Jason Giambi for his 24^th save in 27 chances.

The Padres got off to an early lead playing “Padre Ball” scoring in the first on Scott Hairston’s single. Chris Denorfia struck out with the bases full limiting the damage to one run. They managed another run in the second on Aaron Cunningham’s double, scoring Jerry Hairston Jr.

Everth Cabrera scored the third run for the Padres on a single by Hairston Jr.in the fourth. Cabrera advanced to second on Clayton Richard’s sacrifice bunt. Aaron Cunningham grounded into a double-play to end the inning.

Clayton Richard breezed by the Colorado line-up having retired all nine batters faced his first time through. But after walking David Fowler to start the fourth things were much different. Hererra hit a run scoring triple to lose the no-hit bid and shutout. Carlos Gonzalez singled to shallow center scoring Herrara to bring the lead to only one run at 3-2.

The Rockies got out of a bases loaded situation with Everth Cabrera grounding out to the pitcher in the top of fifth keeping it a one run game. It was the Padres second time they left them loaded in the game so far. Colorado answered back tying the game when Brad Hawpe’s pinch-hit double scored Cint Barmes the next half-inning. They then would take the lead with a three run sixth. Richard was relieved by Luke Gregerson after giving up RBI singles to Miguel Olivo and Clint Barmes. But Gregerson would throw one pitch to reliever Jose Chacin who would single in another to go up 6-3.

Chase Headley doubled to left with one out in the seventh. His  first hit of the series scored both Adrian Gonzalez and Scott Hairston bringing the Padres within one run and very much back into the ballgame. After their two run eighth, Everth Cabrera hit a two-run shot to extend the lead to three runs. This would prove to be most valuable in the next half inning.