J.D. Closser hit his first major league homer

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- After struggling with his control in the early innings, Shawn Estes made some adjustments and baffled the San Diego Padres.

Estes pitched seven solid innings and had two hits, and J.D. Closser hit his first major league homer in the Colorado Rockies' 8-2 victory Saturday night.

After going 0-2 in his previous three starts, Estes (14-6) gave up three straight walks in the second -- but was able to overcome them.

"The first couple of the innings, I couldn't get any consistency with anything," Estes said. "But I ironed some things out. I was more aggressive with my fastball, and I got a lot more movement with it."

Estes allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings, matching the single-season team record for wins by a left-hander, first set by Mike Hampton in 2001. He also singled in the fifth, tripled in the sixth and scored two runs.

J.D. Closser homered in the fifth off Dennis Tankersley (0-5) to start a five-run outburst that put the Rockies ahead 6-2.

"You don't forget your first one," Closser said. "I'll remember that it came at Petco Park. Guys here have been complaining all year about how difficult it is to drive the ball out. To get one at a place that's not supposed to be a home-run ballpark makes it even more special."

Closser, who has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, improved his season batting average to .382 in 18 games.

"I'm just going up there trying to get good pitches to hit," Closser said. "And I've been having a lot of good fortune. You want good at-bats, and hopefully, things will go well for you."

Todd Helton also homered for the Rockies, who won for the third time in four games following an eight-game losing streak.

Tim Harikkala pitched two hitless innings, completing the four-hitter.

With Colorado trailing 2-1, Mark Sweeney drew a leadoff walk, and Closser sent a 1-0 pitch from Tankersley over the wall in right to give the Rockies a 3-2 lead.

"I have no idea what went wrong," Tankersley said. "I do know that I left the ball up a little to Closser."

After Estes singled, Miles reached on a bunt single, and Estes scored on third baseman Rich Aurilia's throwing error.

After Royce Clayton grounded out, Helton was intentionally walked and Vinny Castilla was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ricky Stone came in and gave up a two-run broken-bat single to Jeromy Burnitz, making it 6-2.

"Tankersley was just erratic," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "He might have been a little fatigued toward the end. He just had trouble hitting the spots consistently, and he worked hard out there."

Miles added an RBI single in the sixth, and Helton made it 8-2 when he led off the seventh with his 29th homer off Antonio Osuna.

Tankersley gave up six runs and six hits in 4 1-3 innings.

In his previous three starts, Estes allowed 18 runs and 27 in 15 2-3 innings. The stretch started after he won five straight decisions from July 16-Aug. 12.

"I just wanted to get back out there and turn things around," Estes said. "It was a long five days. Now I can carry some momentum into my next start."

Estes improved to 12-4 in 20 career starts against the Padres.

"As they say in gymnastics, he had a nice recovery," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "When he has his stuff, he's tough to beat."

In the second, Tankersley drew the last of the three straight walks to bring in the first run with the bases loaded. Khalil Greene followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Padres ahead.

The Rockies scored in the second when Matt Holliday hit a one-out double and came home on a two-out double by Closser.

Game notes
The game began 14 minutes late because of ceremonies honoring former Padres All-Star Tony Gwynn, who had his jersey No. 19 retired. ... The Rockies improved to 6-3 at Petco Park this season, equaling their club record for most road wins against a single opponent. They went 6-3 against the Padres at Qualcomm Stadium in 2001.