On Jackie Robinson day at Petco Park on Tuesday night, the San Diego Padres looked like they would make quick work of Colorado Rockies starter Juan Nicasio.  Staggered, and with a battered bullpen needing him  to give them some innings, Nicasio stood his ground and recovered to help the Rockies get the 3-2 road victory.

The first inning for Nicasio (2-0, 3.50) began with four straight hits, including a Will Venable lead off double, to give the Padres (6-8) a 2-0 lead.  It looked as if the Rockies (7-8) were heading to their exhausted bullpen early again.  Rex Brothers was on the shelf after two consecutive losses and the rest of the bullpen had been coming in early in games on this road trip.  Nicasio recovered to strike out Chase Headley and got a flyball from Yonder Alonso that centerfielder Drew Stubbs was able to throw back in to second baseman DJ LeMahieu, doubling off Seth Smith at second.

"In the first inning I gave up some hits and two runs, but then I calmed myself down and made good pitches down in the zone," said Nicasio

After a 31 pitch first inning, Nicasio bounced back with only gave up a single to Venable in the fifth and a Smith double (3) in the sixth to the Padres.  In all, Nicasio threw 99 pitches in six innings, giving up just the two runs on six hits, striking out three and walking one.

"The fact that he got through six was huge," said Rockies manager Walt Weiss. "We needed Juan to get through that sixth; that was critical. I was a little concerned at that point, but he settled in."

Four relievers picked up where Nicasio left off, giving up just two hits.  Latroy Hawkins pitched the ninth and ended it on a Nick Hundley double play for his third save of the year.

The Rockies were unable once again on the road to put up much of an offensive night.  They cut the Padres lead to 2-1 in the second inning off of starter Robbie Erlin (1-1, 3.18) when LeMahieu hit a RBI single to right, scoring Troy Tulowitzki.  In the fourth Nolan Arenado hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Tulowitzki. 

Reliever Tim Stauffer replaced Erlin with two outs in the fifth and gave up a RBI single to Wilin Rosario that scored Michael Cuddyer.  The Padres bullpen shut out the Rockies the rest of the game.

Erlin went 4 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits, striking out a career high seven and walking one.  Erlin was able to strike out four of the first five Rockies hitters he faced but ran out of steam once the middle innings hit.

"The second time through the lineup, I just felt myself trying to do too much, overthrowing," Erlin said. "That's when I lose command of the ball. My game is definitely command and I got hurt with it."

The Rockies have had five consecutive one-run games on this road trip, winning two.

Coming up:

Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa (0-2, 9.69 ERA) - Padres RHP Andrew Cashner (1-1, 1.29) on Wednesday.  Game time is 7:10 PDT