SAN DIEGO(AP) -- Yorvit Torrealba was down to his final strike
before helping Colorado rally for another September win.

Torrealba hit a three-run double off NL saves leader Heath Bell
to lead the Rockies to a 4-1 win over the San Diego Padres on
Friday night.

Torrealba's bases-loaded hit into the left-center field gap
allowed the Rockies to pull out a comeback win and remain two
games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
Los Angeles beat the Giants 10-3 at San Francisco.

"We've had some dramatic games since the end of May, but that
one there goes to the top of the list," Rockies manager Jim
Tracy said.

Colorado, with a major-league best record of 62-28 since June 4,
had been held to just three hits off five Padres pitchers before
tagging Bell with his first blown save at home. The NL co-leader
with 37 saves gave up four runs on three hits and two walks.

Torrealba, who came into the game defensively in the seventh
inning, fell behind 0-2 before he connected on Bell's 2-2
fastball.

"He surprised me that he threw so many fastballs," Torrealba
said. "At 2-2, I figured he would throw me a fastball since he
doesn't want to go 3-2. It seems like he doesn't feel
comfortable throwing his slider."

Bell (5-3), who has four blown saves, struggled with his control
throughout the inning.

"My mechanics were off and I wasn't hitting my spots," he said.
"I should have thrown him a curve ball. If I had thrown him a
curve ball, I think we would have won the game. He's not a good
breaking ball hitter. I should have thrown a breaking ball. It's
probably a better percentage pitch."

San Diego was on the verge of handing the Rockies a tough loss
in their playoff chase with 20 games left in the season after
Jorge De La Rosa walked in the game's only run in the first
inning.

But Colorado rebounded for its eighth straight win as the
Rockies increased their lead in the wild-card race to 5 1/2
games over the Giants. Colorado raised its record to 10-1 in
September, tops in the majors.

"After being down 1-0 almost all game, to be able to come
through off the bench, it was huge," Torrealba said. "We're
trying to get to the playoffs, so it's pretty exciting."

Torrealba is 13 for 18 (.722) with runners in scoring position
since May 29.

Bell gave up a leadoff walk to Todd Helton, who was replaced by
Mike McCoy. Brad Hawpe singled with one out before pinch-hitter
Jason Giambi walked to load the bases.

Bell struck out pinch hitter Matt Murton before Torrealba drove
a ball into the gap to clear the bases. Paul Phillips added an
RBI single off Bell.

"That's just an unbelievable game," Tracy said.

Rafael Betancourt (3-1) got two outs for the win and Franklin
Morales pitched the ninth inning for his sixth save in seven
chances.

De La Rosa allowed one run on five hits in seven innings. He
walked four and struck out eight to set the club single-season
record for strikeouts by a left-hander with 170.

Edward Mujica made his first career start and allowed two hits
in four scoreless innings.

The Rockies' only scoring threat before the ninth came in the
seventh when they loaded the bases. But Luke Gregerson struck
out pinch hitter Ryan Spilborghs.

San Diego loaded the bases in the first inning on David
Eckstein's one-out double, a walk to Adrian Gonzalez and Chase
Headley's bloop single that hit off the glove of second baseman
Clint Barmes in short right field. Barmes had the ball in his
glove before it popped out as he hit into a sliding Hawpe.

De La Rosa then walked Salazar on four consecutive pitches to
force in a run. De La Rosa got out of the inning by getting Will
Venable to ground into a double play.

Mujica's first major league start came after 116 career
appearances out of the bullpen. The right-hander drew the start
in place of rookie Mat Latos, who has been shut down for the
season due to the number of innings he's thrown.

NOTES: Rockies RHP Jose Contreras, who left Thursday's 5-1 win
over Cincinnati with right quadriceps strain, will probably not
make his next start, Tracy said. ... De La Rosa broke the
Rockies' single-season strikeout mark by lefties set by Jeff
Francis in 2007. ... The Padres will honor the Park View
All-Stars, who recently won the Little League World Series,
before Saturday's game against the Rockies. Park View, from
nearby Chula Vista, will take batting practice with San Diego's
last group.