May 11, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) in the dugout in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Denver, Colorado – The Padres’ bats finally cooled off, the altitude took its toll, and an old friend lost his job.
After demolishing the Rockies 21-0 on Saturday night — their most lopsided win in over a decade — San Diego came back to earth in Sunday’s series finale, dropping a 9-3 decision at Coors Field. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak against Colorado this season and closed out a successful 6-3 road trip for the Friars.
The day’s biggest news came off the field, as the Rockies (7-33) dismissed manager Bud Black following the blowout. It was a tough end for the former Padres skipper and San Diego State alum, who spent over eight years at the helm in Denver. Despite rarely having a competitive roster, Black managed 544 wins — the most in Rockies franchise history.
Ironically, his final game came against the Padres, the team that gave him his first managerial job. Saturday’s 21-0 beatdown was the worst home loss in Colorado history and may have sealed his fate.
Nick Pivetta, who had been solid for San Diego, struggled in the thin air — again. The right-hander gave up six runs over four innings, with Hunter Goodman doing most of the damage. Goodman doubled, tripled, and launched a three-run homer in the first inning to give the Rockies an early 3-1 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
It was Pivetta’s fourth career outing at Coors Field, and he came in with a ghastly ERA of 18.90 in Denver. Sunday’s line (6 ER, 7 H, 2 BB in 4 IP) actually lowered that number.
“I just didn’t execute enough pitches, and when you miss here, you pay for it,” Pivetta said after the game.
On the other side, Germán Márquez looked like the ace he once was. After missing most of the past two seasons due to injury, the right-hander held the Padres to one run on three hits over seven dominant innings. At one point, he retired 17 consecutive batters, completely neutralizing a San Diego lineup that had scored 34 runs in the first two games of the series.
Despite the loss and a quiet day from the offense, the Padres (22-18) return home in good spirits. The six-win road trip featured a sweep in Chicago and back-to-back blowouts in Denver. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado each drove in a run in the eighth to make the score more respectable, but the Friars never seriously threatened.
San Diego opens a six-game homestand on Monday night against the Angels. Michael King (3-3, 3.72 ERA) will take the mound opposite lefty Yusei Kikuchi (4-1, 2.85 ERA). The Padres are hoping to continue their upward momentum at Petco Park, where they’ve played just 16 of their first 40 games.
The Rockies’ 7-33 start is the worst in the National League since the 1988 Orioles began the season 6-34.
