The
Colorado Rockies
have been struggling, but their play against the NL West-leading
San Diego Padres
has given them some hope.
The Rockies look to follow up a comeback victory with a second straight win over the Padres when the teams continue a four-game
series at Coors Field on Friday.
Colorado (48-53) is 17-23 against NL West opponents this season - the worst mark of any team in the division. However, the
Rockies are 6-4 against San Diego (54-48) after rallying for a 9-8, 10-inning victory on Thursday.
Jamey Carroll
's single with one out in the 10th inning scored
Choo Freeman
with the winning run as Colorado won for only the fourth time in 14 games.
The Padres appeared poised for their fifth straight victory when closer
Trevor Hoffman
recorded the first two outs of the bottom of the ninth inning with an 8-6 lead.
Todd Helton
singled and
Yorvit Torrealba
followed by hitting Hoffman's next pitch over the left-field fence to tie the game.
''I definitely didn't want to give up a two-run homer there,'' Hoffman said. ''You know that if a ball gets elevated here
it has a chance to go out.''
Hoffman continued his struggles since he blew a save opportunity in the All-Star game for the National League. He's blown
three of six saves chances since for San Diego, posting a 13.50 ERA in that stretch.
Freeman lined a pinch-hit double with one out in the 10th and used a nifty slide to avoid the tag of catcher
Rob Bowen
after right fielder
Brian Giles
' throw home on Carroll's single was up the third-base line.
''What a way to start the series,'' Rockies manager
Clint Hurdle
said. ''To appear to get run out of our ballpark for five innings and still be able to come back and win is something.''
Torrealba and third baseman
Garrett Atkins
each had three hits for the Rockies, whose 16 hits marked their highest total at home this season.
Colorado starter Byung Hyun-Kim (5-6, 5.31 ERA) is 0-2 with an 8.55 ERA over his last four starts. He was hit hard in his
last outing, surrendering seven runs and nine hits over 3 2-3 innings in a 9-7 victory at Arizona on Sunday.
The veteran right-hander is making his first career start against the Padres. He's pitched against San Diego 25 times in relief,
posting a 4.62 ERA.
San Diego has split the first eight games of its 11-game road trip.
Josh Barfield
homered twice and Giles and
Mike Piazza
also connected Thursday.
Shortstop
Khalil Greene
went 3-for-5 for his third multihit effort in his last four games. He's hitting .367 (11-for-30) on the road trip.
The Padres will turn to
Clay Hensley
(6-7, 4.54), who is trying to win on the road for the first time since May 14. Hensley is 0-3 with a 7.34 ERA in his last
seven starts away from Petco Park after giving up two runs and four hits over 5 2-3 innings in a 6-5, 12-inning victory at
San Francisco on Sunday.
The right-hander is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in two outings against Colorado this season.