Rockies force playoff with Padres

The Colorado Rockies’ late-season surge set up one wild finish.

The Rockies will face San Diego in a one-game tiebreaker for the NL wild-card spot today, forcing the playoff with a 4-3 win Sunday at home over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

A single by would-be batting champion Matt Holliday set up the Rockies’ go-ahead, three-run burst in the eighth inning, then closer Manny Corpas held off Arizona’s two-run rally in the ninth for the Rockies’ 13th win in their last 14 games.

San Diego and Colorado will play at Coors Field for the final playoff spot.

The Padres missed a chance to clinch the slot by losing their last two games at Milwaukee, including Sunday’s 11-6 setback.

Brett Tomko (4-12) cruised through three innings as the Padres took a 3-0 lead but fell apart soon after that. He allowed five runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

San Diego, however, quickly focused on the positives, starting with today’s starter Jake Peavy’s 10-1 record and 2.20 earned-run average over his last 13 starts.

“Jake’s going to win the Cy Young for a reason -- he’s one of the best, if not the best, pitcher in the game,” Padres pitcher Chris Young said. “We’ve been swinging the bats well. Our bullpen’s been throwing well, minus a couple of innings the past couple of games. But we’re in great shape.”