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DENVER -- Once he hit the ball down the left-field line, Kyle Blanks began talking to it in an attempt to keep it fair. On the mound and watching the ball soar toward the stands, Jeff Francis started leaning in an effort to push it foul. "I think I mightve been talking louder than he was leaning," Blanks said. Blanks hit a two-run homer that caromed off the foul screen and Eric Stults tossed seven solid innings, helping the San Diego Padres to a 4-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night. For Blanks, this was another memorable night at Coors Field. The powerful first baseman is having quite a series, going 6 for 11 with two homers and five RBIs. And to think he almost didnt make the trip to the Mile High City. He was headed for the minors before the Padres had a late change of plans when infielder Yonder Alonso went on the disabled list. "Getting good pitches to hit. Havent been missing too many," Blanks said of his recent success. "Thats typically how anyone gets quite a few hits." For Francis (2-4), that misplaced changeup may end up costing him more than a game. The soft-tossing lefty is auditioning to keep his spot in the rotation, especially with veteran Roy Oswalt throwing well for Double-A Tulsa. This didnt exactly cement Francis place. "Im not sitting here talking about whats going to happen next week," manager Walt Weiss said when asked about Francis remaining in the rotation. "Well see what happens." Francis struggled in his first start since coming off the disabled list with a strained left groin. He allowed four runs and six hits in four innings. "I dont think I was rusty," Francis said. Everth Cabrera had three hits, including a bloop RBI double, and stole two more bases, running his season total to a major league-leading 28. Stults (5-5) never really ran into trouble against his former team, giving up seven hits and two runs (one earned) for his first win in four starts. Dale Thayer pitched out of a jam in the eighth and Luke Gregerson closed out the ninth for his second save in three chances. It was far from a routine save, though, as Gregerson had runners on second and third with one out, only to get Tyler Colvin to line out to second and then struck out Dexter Fowler to end the game. "That line drive? That will make your heart stop for a second," Gregerson said. "Once we had two outs, I went right after Fowler with a healthy dose of sliders." The Rockies were 0 for 15 with runners in scoring position. That kind of futility doesnt happen all too often to one of the top-hitting teams in the NL. "You cant expect to win when you leave so many guys on base," said Carlos Gonzalez, who was hitless in four at-bats and struck out twice. "Tonight was just a bad game. You have to forget about it." Up 4-2 in the ninth, the Padres had a chance to pad their lead when they loaded the bases with two outs. But Nolan Arenado made a magnificent play at third base, snaring Cameron Maybins slow roller with his bare hand and throwing him out at first base. The Rockies couldnt carry over the momentum. "We just didnt get the big hit tonight," Weiss said. "They did a pretty good job of getting through some things." One of the Rockies runs came courtesy of a throwing error and the other when Colvin grounded out in the seventh following D.J. LeMahieus one-out triple. Colvin was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs earlier in the day and entered the game as part of a double-switch. Stults nearly escaped a jam in the third when the Rockies had runners at first and third with one out. He struck out Gonzalez, but catcher Yasmani Grandal overthrew second with Eric Young Jr. stealing, allowing Fowler to trot home. He was pretty much in control the rest of the way. "Ive been feeling pretty good on the mound," said Stults, who briefly pitched for the Rockies in 2011. "Just like a hitter, you kind of get a groove going. The last few starts, I feel like I have a good tempo. Ive felt good about the way Ive been throwing the ball." San Diego scored a run in the first when Chase Headley singled in Cabrera, who walked and stole second. Headley was back in the lineup after leaving the game Friday with tightness in his right calf after being hit by a pitch. Michael Cuddyer missed his second straight game with sore ribs. The outfielder is hoping he will be healed in a few days and wont have to go on the disabled list for a second time this season. NOTES: The Padres recalled RHP Burch Smith from Triple-A Tucson and optioned RHP Brad Boxberger. ... The Rockies drafted SS Brody Weiss, the son of manager Walt Weiss, in the 22nd round. Brody Weiss is committed to play next year at UC Santa Barbara. "Guess Ill have to negotiate with the Rockies in the next couple of weeks here," Walt Weiss said, smiling. ... Rockies closer Rex Brothers had his brother Hunter, a right-hander out of Lipscomb University in Tennessee, drafted by Colorado in the 24th round. ... To make room for Francis, the team designated RHP Jon Garland for assignment. ... The Rockies wore camouflage caps for Military Appreciation Day. Custom Ravens Jersey . After being told by an Italian reporter that there might be some undeclared gay players on the team, Cassano appeared at a loss for words before responding. "Thats their problem, but I hope not. ... But I dont know," he said, then added that he hoped his answer sufficed. Custom Chiefs Jersey . Raikkonen, who won the season-opening Australian GP, was 0.03 seconds faster than Webber and 0.12 quicker than Vettel. "Its nice to be fastest but you never know what the others are doing," said Raikkonen, who won the drivers championship in 2007. http://www.customnflstore.com/Customized-Buffalo-Bills/ . The end of this mess of a season for the Minnesota Twins still mattered to the veteran right-hander, who wanted no part of 100 losses. Custom Cowboys Jersey . LOUIS -- Shelby Millers lone regret is it took a lot of work to send Milwaukee Brewers hitters trudging back to the dugout. Custom Carolina Panthers Jersey . Reimer was the steady, effective force behind the Leafs sixth win in eight games and third in four tries against Montreal this year, stopping 36 pucks in a 5-1 victory at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday evening. REGINA -- After being the go-to receiver for the past three seasons in Hamilton and Toronto, Arland Bruce had to adjust to diminished role when he was traded to the B.C. Lions in August. On Sunday, he was front and centre once again. Bruce caught a Travis Lulay pass across midfield on B.C.s second offensive play of the fourth quarter, and ran the rest of the way for a 72-yard touchdown that gave B.C. the lead for good in a 29-18 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. "Thered been places throughout the game where I know I wasnt really getting no looks, and its just about being a professional," said Bruce. "Just staying in the game and letting the game come to you ... no matter if youre down by three, or whatever, I just wanted to stay in the game. "Lulay made a great throw, I made a catch for him, and I did my job." The win was the eighth straight for the Lions (9-5), who held onto a share of first place in the CFLs West Division by keeping pace with Edmonton. Saskatchewan (4-11) suffered its fourth straight loss. "Every win for us is big," said Lions head coach Wally Buono, who has guided his team back from an 0-5 start to the year. "Its something that weve been preaching week in and week out about just playing for the week. "Some games are going to be prettier than others, some are going to be easier than others, this was a tough game, and we expected a tough game coming into Saskatchewan." The Roughriders had hoped it would be a little tougher on the Lions. Saskatchewan was down to its last gasp of playoff hope, needing to win all four of its remaining games as well as have Hamilton lose its final four in order to make the post-season. Instead, the Riders will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2001 and, adding insult to injury, have now gone over 265 minutes of footballl without scoring a touchdown.dddddddddddd "Its bitterly disappointing," said a dejected Ken Miller, who returned as Saskatchewans head coach after Greg Marshall was fired following a 1-7 start to the year. Miller previously coached the Riders from 2008-10, leading them to Grey Cup games in each of the last two seasons, and was then asked to compare Sundays emotions with those of losing back-to-back Grey Cups. "Theres no comparison," he said quietly. "When youre in the depth of the valley like we are in this situation, in comparison to being near the mountain top, there really isnt any comparison." Sundays game featured almost 800 yards in total offence but a number of clutch defensive stands saw B.C. kicker Paul McCallum and Riders kicker Chris Milo combine for 10 field goals before Bruce scored the games first touchdown. B.C. running back Andrew Harris added the insurance score with a 42-yard touchdown reception on the Lions next possession. McCallum kicked a 51-yard field goal to open the scoring on the Lions second possession of the game. Milo evened it up with a 37 yarder on Saskatchewans next possession and gave the Riders their first lead of the game with a 49-yard field goal, his longest of the year. The kickers traded field goals to end the half -- McCallum was good from 23 and 10 yards, Milo from 21 and 45 -- as Saskatchewan entered the break with a 12-9 lead. Milo then hit from 30 and McCallum from 31 and the Riders carried a 15-12 lead into the final frame, where Milo booted a 32-yarder early in the frame. McCallum capped the scoring with a 28-yard field goal. Milos only miss of the day came from 34 yards late in the third quarter. Lulay finished 16-of-29 passing for 287 yards. Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant, playing with a broken foot, was 29-for-45 for 281 yards. ' ' '
