DENVER -- Vinny Castilla returned to Colorado Rockies after a four-year absence, rediscovering the All-Star form he seemingly left behind.
Castilla homered twice and drove in four runs, helping the Colorado Rockies end a six-game losing streak with a 13-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.
"It's working out great for me," Castilla said after his 29th career multihomer game. "I love the fans here and when I signed here the front office, my teammates and the coaches welcomed me with open arms. It's a great feeling when you feel wanted."
Castilla made a name for himself in the mid-1990s as part of Colorado's Blake Street Bombers, blasting homers and attracting fans with his charismatic style.
After moving around from Tampa Bay to Houston to Atlanta, Castilla returned to where it all started this season. He couldn't have asked for a better homecoming.
With two-run homers in the first and eighth innings, the 36-year-old slugger increased his season total to 14, tied with Arizona's Steve Finley for the major league lead. Castilla also has 43 RBI, matching St. Louis' Scott Rolen for most in the majors.
In case that's not enough, he's also hitting .318, has been superb at third base -- one error in 116 chance -- and has filled in at cleanup with Preston Wilson and Larry Walker injured.
"That was probably the best free-agent acquisition of the offseason that we could have made," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said.
It wasn't just Castilla on Wednesday night.
Matt Holliday had a two-run homer in the fifth, Mark Sweeney drove in three runs and Todd Greene knocked in two more. Jason Jennings worked through trouble for his first win at Coors Field and Royce Clayton had three hits and scored three runs.
"We needed this win bad," Castilla said after Colorado's fourth victory in 13 games.
San Diego fell behind early for the second straight game, but couldn't come back this time. The Padres followed Tuesday's 11-6 victory by allowing 14 hits and 13 runs for their fourth loss in six games.
"We got down last night and our offense brought us back," San Diego manager Bruce Bochy said. "Tonight, we got too far down with too much to overcome."
Jennings (3-5) had a hand in it.
One of the few pitchers to not let Coors Field bother him -- 17-6 his first two seasons -- Jennings began this year 0-3 with a 9.43 ERA in four starts at the hitter's haven.
Jennings worked through plenty of trouble this time, allowing at least one hit in every inning, but was able to work through the tight spots. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning and wound up allowing three runs on nine hits in six innings to win for just the second time in six starts.
"It was closer to the real me," Jennings said. "It was more like when I was going good at times last year and two years ago. I'm going to give up hits, but if I make pitches I can do it."
Padres starter Adam Eaton (1-5) fell behind early and never really recovered to lose his fourth straight decision. He gave up three runs in the first inning and three more in the fifth, finishing with eight runs and 10 hits in six innings.
"I was up a little bit, but it seemed when I did make a good pitch they were able to find a hole, too," said Eaton, winless in eight starts. "It's a mixed bag. If the ball is not down, especially in this park, it doesn't do any good."
Colorado scored three in the first inning on Sweeney's RBI single and Castilla's two-run drive. Luis Gonzalez made it 4-0 with a run-scoring single in the second.
San Diego pulled within a run in the third on Eaton's RBI double over Rene Reyes in center and Nevin's two-run single. The Padres had a chance to get closer in the fifth after loading the bases, but Jennings got Jay Payton to hit a weak comebacker on a changeup to end the threat.
"Jennings made a good pitch and got a big out," Bochy said.
It proved to be San Diego's last chance.
The Rockies made it 7-3 in the fifth inning on Sweeney's RBI single and Holliday's two-run homer, which sliced just over the wall in right.
Colorado added a run in the sixth on Clayton's RBI single, and Greene had a two-run double off Jay Witasick in the seventh.
The Padres scored three runs in the ninth on Brain Giles' two-run double and Nevin's RBI single before Shawn Chacon closed them out.
Notes
Clayton's double in the first inning was his 12th in 16 games. He has 17 on the season, matching his total all last year. ... Payton took a hit away from Holliday in the first inning with a leaping, twisting catch near the wall. ... Three of Eaton's four hits this season have been doubles.
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