Rockies-Padres box score

SAN DIEGO - Rockies manager Clint Hurdle has a reason for giving the young players from the system a chance to fill the holes that have cropped up on the major league roster.

He believes there is ability in the organization.

And none of the players is arguing with him.

Ubaldo Jimenez and Ian Stewart repaid Hurdle's confidence Wednesday night.

With the starting rotation in tatters, Jimenez turned in six dominating innings, then Stewart came off the bench to provide the clutch pinch hit that lifted the Rockies to a 3-0 victory against the Padres at Petco Park.

Jimenez rebounded from back-to- back struggles - he gave up 15 runs, 11 earned, in 6 2/3 innings during his previous two starts - to strike out a personal-best nine batters, equaling the second most for a Rockies rookie pitcher, and limit the Padres to one hit, a first-inning single by Geoff Blum.

"We were talking on the bench, (Jimenez) had a different look in his eye," Stewart said. "I have seen him do this at Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A, especially Double-A, where he really dominated teams like he did (the Padres). He is close to being that kind of pitcher."

Relievers LaTroy Hawkins, Jorge Julio and Manny Corpas finished the Rockies' third shutout of the season. Corpas worked the ninth for his 10th save in as many opportunities since becoming the closer July 1.

Stewart helped the Rockies take advantage when Padres starter Chris Young left after six innings.

It was the 10th time in 22 starts this year Young didn't allow a run.

With two out and runners on second and third, Stewart, called up Saturday to make his major league debut, bounced a two-out single up the middle to drive in both runs.

"This wasn't just big for us," Stewart said of himself and Jimenez. "We knew the team needed a big performance. We know what's at stake. The team is playing well, and we want to be part of it."

The Rockies added a run in the ninth when, with two out, pinch hitter Jamey Carroll beat out an infield single, stole second, took third on a wild pitch by Doug Brocail and scored on a single by Kazuo Matsui.

The victory allowed the Rockies to remain five games behind National League West-leading Arizona and moved them two games behind the Padres in the NL wild-card race.

It also helped ease the disappointment of the announcement Opening Day starter Aaron Cook will join two other members of the season-opening rotation, Rodrigo Lopez and Jason Hirsh, on the disabled list.

The Rockies are counting on Jimenez and left-hander Franklin Morales, who currently is scheduled to make his major league debut Saturday at Dodger Stadium, to help keep them in contention for now.

At least until the return of Cook, out with a strained side muscle in his left side, and Hirsh, who suffered a fractured right fibula. Lopez is out for the season after undergoing right elbow surgery.

Jimenez has pitched well in four of six starts and now has had two impressive efforts against the Padres.

He has shut out the Padres in 12 consecutive innings after giving up a three-run home run to Mike Cameron in the first inning of a seven-inning effort July 24 at Coors Field.

"He was big time for us when we needed it, and he needed it," Hurdle said of Jimenez. "He was overpowering. He did what he needed to do. He made his pitches. It was a very polished performance."

Jimenez didn't give the Padres much hope during his six innings Wednesday. After Blum's one-out single in the first, he struck out Cameron looking and Adrian Gonzalez swinging. Twice he allowed the Padres to get a runner in scoring position, but both times it was with two out.

Young was just as impressive, striking out the first four batters he faced, but Cla Meredith wasn't as successful in the seventh.

Garrett Atkins greeted Meredith with a single and Brad Hawpe worked him for a walk.

After Ryan Spilborghs twice failed to get down a bunt, Meredith struck him out. Then Yorvit Torrealba grounded out on a chopper to shortstop, moving Atkins to third and Hawpe to second.

Meredith got ahead of Stewart 0-2 - a foul ball and a swinging strike - but on the next pitch, Stewart bounced the single between second baseman Blum and the base to put the Rockies up 2-0.

ringolsbyt@RockyMountainNews.com

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