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Matt Holliday
broke out of his slump and the
Colorado Rockies
stopped a two-game slide with one swing of the bat.
The third-year major leaguer will look to continue his game-winning form as the Rockies (8-6) meet the
San Diego Padres
in the series-deciding third game on Wednesday.
Holliday halted an 0-for-11 slump on Tuesday when his two-out single knocked in
Todd Helton
in the 11th inning to give the Rockies a 3-2 win.
The left fielder's hit came off of reliever
Jon Adkins
, with whom he is very familiar.
''I know him on a personal level because he was my brother's roommate in college,'' Holliday said. ''He played for my dad,
and pitched with my brother, Josh.''
Holliday, whose 15 RBIs lead the team, has come through with performances to help the Rockies to their eight victories. He
is 11-for-30 (.367) with one homer and 10 RBIs in the wins, while going 3-for-25 (.120) with one homer and five RBIs in Colorado's
six losses. The team lost both games during his recent slump.
''Matt has had his ups and downs the last few games,'' Colorado manager
Clint Hurdle
said. ''He delivered the big hit for us so this couldn't have come at a better time for him.''
Colorado will send
Zach Day
to the mound looking to rebound from a difficult outing on Friday in a 10-8 loss to the
Philadelphia Phillies
.
The right-hander gave up five runs and seven hits in 2 2-3 innings, leaving him with a 1-1 record with a 7.45 ERA.
''Zach was very hittable,'' Hurdle said. ''He didn't have any good weapons.''
The right-hander won his last meeting with San Diego on April 8, allowing three earned runs in seven innings of a 12-4 rout.
The win gave him a 2-0 mark with a 5.79 ERA against the Padres in three career appearances, including two starts.
The Padres (5-8) counter with 13-year veteran
Chan Ho Park
, who is looking to improve on a shaky first start.
The right-hander allowed four runs and seven hits and had five strikeouts in five innings, but did not factor in the decision
of a 5-4 loss to the
Atlanta Braves
on Friday.
He entered the rotation after
Shawn Estes
suffered a left elbow strain in the season opener and was placed on the disabled list.
San Diego may need Park to pitch deeper into the game after using six pitchers on Tuesday. He appeared twice out of the bullpen
this season for 4 2-3 total innings.
Catcher
Mike Piazza
went 2-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI on Tuesday to end a 1-for-14 slump. The 12-time All-Star increased his batting average
to .231 in 10 games for the Padres, after joining them before spring training as a free agent from the
New York Mets
.
Piazza is not the only Padre struggling at the plate, as the team is hitting a National League-worst .235 and also ranks last
in runs scored with 52.
Center fielder Termel Sledge was sent to the minors before Tuesday's game after hitting .160 in nine games. Adkins took Sledge's
spot on the major league roster.
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