DENVER_Without stepping into the batter's box, Jose Pirela stated his case for the San Diego Padres' most valuable player of 2017.
Pirela, a left fielder and San Diego's typical No. 3 hitter, was out of the lineup Saturday for a fourth consecutive game. The Padres dropped to 0-4 since he sprained his left pinky finger sliding into third base last weekend in Arizona. In that span, they have been outscored 41-2.
The latest humiliation unfolded in a 16-0 shutout by the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, the game's most hitter-friendly environment. Padres right-hander Jordan Lyles, facing the club that released him last month, surrendered seven runs. On the other side, former teammate Tyler Anderson took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning.
Manuel Margot ended it with a two-out, infield single, but the pain continued for the Padres. Two at-bats later, Wil Myers, who has hit third in Pirela's absence, limped after fouling a ball off his right leg. He struck out looking at the next pitch. Before the bottom of the inning, backup catcher Hector Sanchez, not Myers, settled in at first base.
The Padres announced that Myers had sustained a contusion. They soon saw another player forced from the game.
Rookie pitcher Miguel Diaz retired the first batter in the bottom of the sixth. Consecutive singles and a home run by Charlie Blackmon ensued, making it 10-0. Diaz, a Rule 5 draftee who has predictably struggled with control, missed inside with his first pitch to the next batter. The next pitch clipped DJ LeMahieu.
The Rockies second baseman stomped out of the box, gesturing toward Diaz. Home-plate umpire Gerry Davis immediately headed him off. Benches and bullpens of both teams cleared, converging in the infield, where LeMahieu was still irate. No punches or shoves were dispensed.
Soon, order was restored, and non-active personnel returned to their places. The umpiring crew, meanwhile, continued to deliberate. Diaz stood alone on the mound, awaiting a verdict. After a brief conference, he walked off the field as the crowd roared in approval. Davis had decided to eject him.
Padres pitchers who were not heaved from the field also had a bad time.
Lyles, making his third start for San Diego, gave up a five-spot in the third and was lifted after yielding a two-run homer in the fifth.
Pat Valaika mashed a pinch-hit grand slam off Cory Mazzoni in the seventh, and for the second time in four games, the Padres were staring at a 16-0 deficit. Tuesday at Minnesota, they'd lost by the same score as the Twins homered in seven consecutive innings.
The Rockies finished with 17 hits. The Padres eked out three as they matched a season-worst with a fifth consecutive loss.
They will be challenged to avoid another defeat in Sunday's series finale.
Pirela, who is day-to-day, has yet to take on-field batting practice this week. Since being promoted from Triple-A in June, he has hit .288 with a team-leading .837 on-base-plus slugging percentage. Myers, who leads the team with 28 home runs, ranks second with a .788 OPS.
