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Adrian Gonzalez
appears to have found a home in his hometown.
Gonzalez looks for his third straight multi-hit effort to open the season for the
San Diego Padres
, who begin a three-game weekend set at Petco Park against the
Colorado Rockies
.
Gonzalez was billed as a star in the making when he was drafted first overall by the
Florida Marlins
in 2000. The Marlins dealt the first baseman to Texas in 2003, but he languished behind all-star
Mark Teixeira
.
The San Diego native was traded to his hometown team along with Friday's starting pitcher
Chris Young
as part of the deal that sent
Adam Eaton
to Texas on Jan. 4. Gonzalez has thrived in his first two games, going 5-for-8 with three runs scored while batting fifth
in the lineup in place of the injured
Ryan Klesko
.
''He's so smooth in everything he does,'' San Diego outfielder
Eric Young
said. ''He really reminds me of (Rafael) Palmeiro. He's got that sweet, easy stroke, like Raffy. And he's just so smooth at
first.''
Gonzalez managed only seven multi-hit efforts last season for Texas, batting .227 in just 150 at-bats.
While Gonzalez returned to the town where he starred in high school, Young was dealt away from the Dallas area where he grew
up. The 6-foot-10 right-hander went 12-7 with a 4.26 ERA with the Rangers last season, his first full year as a starter.
Young, who started for Texas on opening day last season, had eight wins at the All-Star break before fading down the stretch.
He pitched into the seventh inning just three times over his final 13 starts.
This will be Young's first start against an NL West opponent. The Padres are hoping that switching leagues will help him.
Young went 3-1 with a 2.59 ERA in four interleague starts for the Rangers a year ago.
San Diego (1-1) went 11-7 against Colorado last season, including a 6-3 mark at home. Padres pitching limited the Rockies
to 33 runs in the nine meetings at Petco Park.
The Padres split a rain-shortened two-game series with San Francisco to start the season. Gonzalez's solo homer accounted
for their only run in a 3-1 loss on Wednesday.
''A tough loss,'' Gonzalez said. ''We had a couple rallies end with hard-hit balls at somebody or a good defensive play.''
Rockies starter
Josh Fogg
is hoping his career will take a turn for the better when he makes his Colorado debut. Fogg signed a one-year deal in February
after spending the last four seasons with Pittsburgh.
After Fogg turned in three straight non-losing seasons for the Pirates, he stumbled to go 6-11 with a 5.05 ERA last year.
The 29-year-old right-hander went 2-7 with a 6.21 ERA after the All-Star break.
Fogg is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA in two career starts against the Padres, including a victory in his lone outing at Petco Park
last season.
Colorado (1-2) is beginning a six-game road trip and hopes to get off to a better start away from Coors Field than last season.
The Rockies lost 33 of their first 40 road games in 2005 before winning 20 of their final 41.
First baseman
Todd Helton
- a career .337 hitter overall- batted only .287 on the road last season.
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