Arenado bruises chest in Rockies' win over Padres

SAN DIEGO (AP) Nolan Arenado missed the ball, but might have caught a break.

The Colorado star third baseman bruised his chest when he landed in the stands going after a foul popup Monday, and exited early in the Rockies' 6-4 win over the San Diego Padres.

''I don't know what I hit - a chair or an arm rest,'' he said. ''It hit me deep and it hurt me. I thought if I dove I would land on some people but there was no one sitting there.''

Arenado was injured in the sixth inning and left in the eighth. He went for tests, which came back negative.

''I will be OK,'' he said. ''I got an X-ray and everything looked good. I expect to be in the lineup tomorrow.''

The 24-year-old has 36 home runs, tied for the NL lead with teammate Carlos Gonzalez. The two-time Gold Glove winner is hitting .287 with 106 RBIs this season.

Arenado was 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss was glad Arenado came out OK.

''Any time a guy goes into the seats you are a little nervous,'' Weiss said. ''But we have seen him pull off the impossible and he almost did it again.''

Kyle Kendrick (5-12) pitched five innings and hit his first major league home run. He helped the Rockies win for the first time in seven games at Petco Park.

''I had some tough innings where I got some guys on base and in some jams, but all in all it was pretty decent,'' Kendrick said.

John Axford, the seventh Rockies pitcher, worked the ninth for his 20th save in 25 chances.

''The bullpen got some huge outs,'' Weiss said. ''We threw the kitchen sink at them. It was a good win.''

San Diego has lost four straight and six of its last seven.

Ian Kennedy (8-13) pitched five innings and was charged with six runs - four earned - seven hits and a walk. He struck out nine and got nicked by Kendrick.

''It's the worst feeling giving up a home run to a pitcher,'' Kennedy said. ''You don't expect it, especially a pitcher in that lineup.''

The Padres cut their deficit to 6-4 in the sixth on a throwing error by catcher Dustin Garneau. San Diego had the go-ahead run aboard but Wil Myers struck out after a potential grand slam off reliever Justin Miller just went foul.

San Diego pulled to 6-3 in the fourth as Justin Upton walked and came around on Jedd Gyorko's double

Kendrick hit his home run in the fourth, a solo shot to left that made it 6-2.

The Padres tied the game at 2 on Matt Kemp's home run. It was his 19th of the season and extended his streak of reaching base to a career-high 27 games.

Kemp also dropped a fly ball in right field for a three-base error.

WEATHER OR NOT

The last time the Rockies were in San Diego on July 19, their game at Petco Park was rained out. When returning on Monday, they were greeted with weather more suited for a San Diego summer at 87 degrees. The rainout is being made up on Thursday.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: C Nick Hundley was out of the lineup with a sore neck. He is day-to-day.

Padres: RHP Joaquin Benoit was unavailable with a sore back.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (0-0, 6.15) is seeking his first major league win; the Rockies are 1-5 in his starts. He had a no-decision when facing the Padres on Aug. 15, pitching five innings and allowing four hits and a run. He was leading 3-1 when he left.

Padres: RHP Colin Rea (2-2, 5.47) won his first two starts, but has lost his last two decisions. He had a no-decision in his previous outing, working five innings and giving up four hits and two runs against the Dodgers on Thursday. He had a career-high six strikeouts.