Padres Randy Vásquez tosses seven scoreless innings in shutout over Rockies

Vásquez, along with relievers Jason Adam and Adrian Morejon, not only combined for the shutout, but they set down 18 batters in a row. Earning his second win of the season and posting a 1.88 ERA through five starts, the 27-year-old tied a career high seven innings pitched, a benchmark he's reached now three times.

"It's fantastic", Stammen said. "Hard to pitch like that at Coors Field. You know, (he) did a tremendous job throwing strikes, getting his pitch countdown, got a lot of swing and miss. Just an outstanding outing for Randy.

He finished the night throwing 84 pitches and only allowed three hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

Morejon earned his first save of the season, but to some surprise, it was expected in a one run to see the usual dominate closer Mason Miller, who is one inning away from breaking the franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings. However Stammen said on Sunday he decided since Miller pitched on Saturday and Sunday, he would getting the next two days off, and at this point of the season, Stammen wants to be careful with his guys and how he uses them.

"We decided Adrian was a good person for the ninth," Stammen said. "Mason will be fine going forward but you got to take it easy on him. We've used him a lot over here over the last week or so. You know, he's not a robot."

With the victory in hand, the Padres offense could not support Vásquez the way he did. The team often had a difficult time making contact and posted a season-high 15 strikeouts, including from players who have been usually consistent at the plate: Ramón Laureano (3), Fernando Tatis Jr. (2), Jackson Merrill (3) and Xander Bogaerts (2).

The only generated offense came in the sixth inning when Dollander gave up a hustle double from Jake Cronenworth, followed up by a barehand misplay by third baseman Kyle Karros to allow Tatis Jr. to reach first base. On the very next pitch, Merrill would get plunked to load the bases with two outs, which led to a RBI walk by Manny Machado.

"We weren't getting anything going, we struck out on the side," Stammen said. "Their pitchers kind of had us in a tailspin. Jake gets one through the hole and then, you know, like he always does hustling everywhere gets in that double... Those finishing plays is what we talk about can win us some games, today it won us a game."

San Diego had a good chance to add a little cushion in the ninth with Miguel Andujar and Freddy Fermin in scoring position, but the pair would get left stranded after Cronenworth struck out following an overturned ABS challenge that touched the top of the strike zone.

The Padres will look to take the series on Wednesday with their starting right-hander Walker Buehler (1-1, 4.58 ERA) and he will face-off against Rockies right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano. First pitch is at 5:40 p.m.