They had at least one runner on base in every inning except the ninth and at least one runner at second and/or third base in each of the first three innings and again in the seventh. But they were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position to that point.

Rockies starter Austin Gomber, who had allowed at least one run in the first inning in all four of his starts and carried a 4.95 ERA into Monday, was not sharp early. But the Padres could not take advantage of that.

The left-hander made it through five innings allowing just one run.

That came in the third inning when José Azocar led off with a single through the right side, went to second on a wild pitch, to third on Jake Cronenworth’s groundout and scored on Jurickson Profar’s two-out single to left field.

The Rockies have trailed at some point in all of their games in 2024 and are now 5-18, the worst record they have ever had 23 games into a season.

Their first deficit lasted an inning when they turned their first baserunner into a run, tying the game when Blackmon led off the fourth with a double off the wall in right-center field, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Tovar and sacrifice fly by Ryan McMahon.

He retired nine straight batters before Blackmon’s hit and 12 straight after to finish his night.

_____

©2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.