SAN DIEGO -- Christian Villanueva is a rookie trying to make his mark. Clayton Richard is a veteran who was on the mark Thursday.

Villanueva homered for the second game in a row and Richard pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings as the San Diego Padres shut out the Colorado Rockies 3-0.

"It's really special, it's awesome," Villanueva said through a translator. "It unforgettable."

Villanueva, who was called up Monday, homered in the fifth inning and added a RBI single in the sixth.

Richard, after signing a two-year contract extension Wednesday, was sensational in handing the fading Rockies their fourth consecutive loss and sixth in eight games.

"I felt solid but every time I start I've got to give credit to (Austin) Hedges," Richard said of his catcher. "He comes prepared every day and that means a lot."

The left-hander beat the Rockies for the second time in four starts this year by restricting them to seven hits and a walk. Richard (8-14) was backed by three double plays, and he struck out six.

"I look at him right now and I feel good that he is going to be in a Padres uniform for two more years," Padres manager Andy Green said.

Colorado maintained its one-game lead for the National League's second wild-card spot with the Milwaukee Brewers losing to the Chicago Cubs.

"It's fun to win baseball games," Green said about the Padres being spoilers. "I know they are playing under a greater amount of pressure than we are right now. But we are out here to win as many games as possible."

Hunter Renfroe, who hit three homers Wednesday, delivered a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning prior to Villanueva's run-scoring hit.

The Rockies had the tying run at the plate in the eighth, but Padres reliever Kirby Yates struck out DJ LeMahieu in a 12-pitch duel and got Nolan Arenado to ground out.

"Kirby has plus-spin and plus-(velocity) and he wins up in the strike zone," Green said. "Those matchups played for us."

Brad Hand struck out the side in the ninth for his 20th save.

Tyler Anderson (5-6) lasted 5 2/3 innings and surrendered three runs, six hits and a walk. Anderson, who won his previous two starts, had six strikeouts.

Villanueva smacked the second home run of his career, a 410-foot blast off Anderson that put the Padres ahead 1-0.

The Rockies had little luck against Richard as he leaned on his ability to produce ground balls. He entered the game tied with the Blue Jays' Marcus Stroman for the major league lead in ground balls induced.

"I think he kept the ball off the barrel of the bat a lot of times tonight," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "You saw the legit sinker that produces the grounder, a lot of ground balls. We hit it on the nose, but we hit it on the ground."

The Padres have much ground to gain before being considered a playoff-caliber club. But until then, they'll try to make life miserable for those seeking a postseason invitation.

"It's a good win for the team, first win of the series against a good team battling for the playoffs," Richard said. "These games mean a lot to them and we are going to play them like they mean a lot to us."

After Arenado singled in the first, Trevor Story grounded into a double play. Two of the three outs in each of the next two innings came via ground balls, and in the fourth, Richard produced another double-play grounder to squash the Rockies.

"We just haven't been getting the big hit," Story said. "When we've had our chance we haven't taken advantage of them. It's as simple as that."

Manuel Margot advanced to third in the third inning thanks to a two-out double and a wild pitch, but Carlos Asuaje struck out to strand him.

NOTES: Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado snapped a 0-for-16 skid on the road with a first-inning single. ... Colorado LHP Tyler Anderson had his 14-inning scoreless streak snapped on Christian Villanueva's fifth-inning homer. ... Padres LF Jose Pirela (thumb) won't play again this season. ... San Diego RHP Jose Valdez and INF Dusty Coleman were outrighted to Triple-A El Paso. ... The Padres will extend their protective netting at Petco Park in 2018.