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The
Colorado Rockies
pounded the
San Diego Padres
just over a week ago in a three-game sweep at spacious Petco Park. Now the Rockies get another shot at them at Coors Field.
The Rockies continue their nine-game homestand Monday night when they meet the Padres in the opener of a three-game series.
Colorado (7-5) cruised to the sweep at San Diego from April 7-9, scoring 32 runs in the process. The Rockies hit .375 in the
series, with 24 of their 48 hits going for extra bases as they became the first team to score at least 10 runs in three straight
games at Petco.
Garrett Atkins
went 8-for-15,
Cory Sullivan
was 9-for-15 and
Jason Smith
went 8-for-13 in the series for Colorado.
Rockies manager
Clint Hurdle
had a simple explanation for his team's hitting in the three games.
''Because they're capable of doing it,'' Hurdle said. ''And obviously I think the other team would be the first one to tell
you, they're not pitching like they can or like they need to. They're probably leaving balls up over the plate. We're getting
some balls to hit, and we're hitting them.''
Strangely enough, the Rockies have not been nearly as productive offensively in the thin air of Coors as they have been on
the road. Colorado has scored 47 runs in six road games, but only 28 in going 2-4 at home.
Colorado managed seven hits in Sunday's 1-0 loss to Philadelphia, the team's first 1-0 defeat in the history of Coors Field.
Atkins had three singles for the Rockies, who failed to break through against Phillies starter
Brett Myers
and two relievers.
Shortstop
Clint Barmes
went 0-for-4 to snap his six-game hitting streak. Barmes had been 12-for-28 during his tear, including a pair of three-hit
games.
San Diego (4-7) has had trouble scoring this season, with 45 runs through 11 games. The Padres also have only eight homers.
''We haven't shown a lot of power,'' San Diego manager
Bruce Bochy
said. ''I think it will be there. The first 10 games, it hasn't been there. That's one reason we're where we're at.''
The Padres ended a three-game skid and improved to 3-3 on their nine-game road trip with a 4-3 victory over Atlanta on Sunday.
Pinch-hitter
Eric Young
drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the eighth inning as San Diego rallied from a 3-0 deficit after six innings.
''It was a much-needed win,'' Bochy said. ''It stopped a streak. It was huge.''
The Padres have scored 10 runs over their last four games.
Chris Young
makes his third start of the season for San Diego on Monday. Young earned his first win as a Padre by yielding one hit over
six scoreless innings in a 7-2 victory at Florida on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-10 right-hander is making his first career appearance at Coors Field. He faced Colorado on April 7 and did not
receive a decision after giving up four runs and five hits over 5 1-3 innings of a 10-4 loss.
Colorado will counter with left-hander
Jeff Francis
, 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in two starts this season - both against Arizona.
Francis is 3-3 with a 5.40 ERA in six career starts against the Padres, whom he beat for his first major league victory on
Sept. 5, 2004. He's 10-5 with a 4.85 ERA in 18 home starts for the Rockies.
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