Ian Desmond hit a two-run home run with two outs in the ninth, and the Colorado Rockies rallied to beat the San Diego Padres 4-3 on Thursday in Denver.

David Dahl also went deep, and Chris Rusin (1-2) got the win with an inning of relief as the Rockies celebrated the return of veteran Matt Holliday.

Colorado moved into a tie with the idle Milwaukee Brewers for the second National League wild-card position. Both teams are a half-game behind the St. Louis Cardinals, who occupy the top NL wild-card spot.

Jose Pirela had three hits, and Hunter Renfroe homered for San Diego.

The Rockies trailed by one entering the ninth when Trevor Story reached on a one-out bloop single off Kirby Yates (4-3). After Gerardo Parra struck out, Desmond lined a 1-0 pitch into the seats in left to give Colorado the win.

It was his 20th home run of the season and second walk-off of his career. The blast allowed the Rockies to win in Holliday's 2018 debut after his contract was selected before the game.

Holliday, batting fifth, went 0-for-3 in the contest before being replaced on defense by Parra in the top of the seventh.

Holliday signed a minor league deal with the Rockies on July 29 and worked his way back to the parent club where he started his career. He helped Colorado reach the World Series 2007 when he batted .340 with 36 home runs and 137 RBIs.

He famously scored the winning run in the play-in game against San Diego on Oct. 1 of that season. Holliday tagged up from third on a fly ball to right and was ruled safe -- though it wasn't clear if he touched the plate -- to help the Rockies rally to win the National League wild card.

Dahl gave Colorado the lead Thursday with a homer off starter Joey Lucchesi in the fifth. Renfroe answered with a solo homer in the sixth off Kyle Freeland to tie it, and Nolan Arenado's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning gave the Rockies a 2-1 lead.

The Padres rallied in the seventh. With one out, A.J. Ellis singled, and reliever Bryan Shaw walked pinch hitter Wil Myers. An error by shortstop Story loaded the bases, and Pirela singled up the middle to drive in two and make it 3-2.

Freeland allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings for the Rockies, striking out seven and walking one. Lucchesi gave up two runs on five hits and struck out six in six innings for San Diego. He walked one.

--Field Level Media