DENVER (AP) — Erik Johnson’s debut for the San Diego Padres wasn’t all that bad. That is, once he settled in with his new team.
The right-hander showed hints of effectiveness, just not quite enough in a 5-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
Johnson went 4 2-3 innings and gave up five runs in his first starter since the right-hander was acquired last weekend as part of the deal that sent righty James Shields to the Chicago White Sox. Johnson was recalled from Single-A Lake Elsinore before the game.
“Overall, he pitched very solid,” manager Andy Green said.
Especially after a rough first in which Johnson (0-1 in the NL, after going 0-2 in the AL) gave up a three-run homer to Carlos Gonzalez.
“I thought he was better after the first inning. The first inning there was a little thing with a new team, trying to find your footing — new place, new environment,” Green said. “Sometimes it takes a while to get some traction. I thought after the first inning he found that traction. He threw the ball better after that.”
Johnson also struggled in the fifth, when he gave up a solo homer to Charlie Blackmon that hit off the foul pole and later an RBI single to Gonzalez.
“After that first inning, I was able to collect my thoughts and myself. I went back out there and I was throwing the way I am all about,” Johnson said.
The talk was all about the tag: How second baseman DJ LeMahieu even caught the throw in the first place, let alone how he managed to get his glove on the base stealer to end the game.
“That was a pretty special play right there,” starter Tyler Chatwood said.
“A really, really good play,” closer Carlos Estevez added.
More than anything, LeMahieu’s lunging tag helped the Rockies avoid another ninth-inning meltdown.
A day after blowing a game in the final inning, the Rockies bullpen secured one. It was far from easy, but in the process they found their closer for the time being in flamethrower Estevez, who picked up his first career save.
“That inning felt too much like yesterday,” LeMahieu said. “Glad we could end it right there.”
This is how the wild ninth unfolded: Jason Motte surrendered a double to Matt Kemp and hit pinch hitter Brett Wallace to start the inning. Estevez was summoned from the bullpen as the song “Wild Thing” blared throughout the stadium.
Estevez enticed a fly out and a pop up. Travis Jankowski entered as a pinch runner and took off for second. The throw by Dustin Garneau was slightly off line and LeMahieu dove to stop it. As he caught it, LeMahieu’s glove remained in the way of Jankowski for the final out.
“Lucky, lucky tag,” said LeMahieu, who had another amazing tag earlier in the game.
For a moment, the stunned Padres thought about challenging.
“But you have the worst angle from the dugout of anybody in the stadium and absolutely no clue if he is out of safe,” Green explained. “We got a good report that he was out.”
Relying on an efficient sinker, Chatwood (8-4) found his groove at Coors Field after being so dominant in road starts. He threw 6 2-3 strong innings and allowed three runs. He’s been stellar away from Denver with a major league-best 0.65 road ERA.
Chatwood kept the ball low all afternoon. He got 16 outs on ground balls, including two double plays, and no fly outs.
San Diego nearly staged another rally on the heels of Wil Myers hitting a three-run homer in the ninth off closer Jake McGee for a 7-5 win on Friday.
Estevez quieted any thoughts of that.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: RHP Andrew Cashner was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained neck. He left the game Friday with upper back and neck tightness after throwing six pitches.
SOLARTE UPDATE
Padres third baseman Yangervis Solarte left in the fourth with a bruised left thumb.
“He’s going to be fine,” Green said. “On his first at-bat, he didn’t appear to swing the bat and it seemed a good time to give him the rest of the game.”
UP NEXT
Padres: LHP Christian Friedrich (3-1) makes his first start against his former team Sunday.
Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson will make his major league debut Sunday. RHP Eddie Butler (2-3) was originally scheduled to start.
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