San Diego @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( May 9, 2012 ) Colorado 6, San Diego 2
The San Diego Padres continue their 10-game road trip Friday when they take on the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a three-game series. San Diego earned a split of its four-game set in Houston with a 7-3 comeback victory in which it rallied for six runs in the ninth inning. Alexi Amarista capped the uprising with a grand slam, his first home run in 56 career games.
The Padres, who halted a string of 119 straight losses when trailing after eight innings, have split their first six meetings with the Rockies this season. Colorado is looking to post consecutive victories for the first time since June 3-4. The Rockies squandered an early seven-run lead over Washington on Thursday before recording an 11-10 triumph in 11 innings. After registering a 4-2 win in the opener of their four-game series with the Nationals, they allowed 33 runs over the final three contests.
Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez has been on a tear of late, hitting safely in seven straight games and 15 of 16. He is batting .375 (27-for-72) with three home runs and 11 RBIs during that span, recording eight multi-hit performances in the process.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN (San Diego), Root Sports (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Jason Marquis (1-3, 2.05 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Jeff Francis (0-1, 7.23)
Marquis has been a completely different pitcher since joining San Diego but has very little to show for it. After going 2-4 while allowing 32 earned runs over 34 innings in seven starts with Minnesota earlier this season, the 33-year-old has yielded only six earned runs over 26 1/3 frames in four outings with the Padres. Marquis, who has lost two straight, is 5-4 in 14 career games - 12 starts - against Colorado.
Francis is coming off his second consecutive solid outing but has settled for a no-decision each time. The veteran allowed one run in five frames at Philadelphia last Thursday, then yielded two runs over five innings against Washington on Monday. The 31-year-old did not issue a walk in either start. Francis has not fared well against the Padres in his career, going 5-13 with a 5.65 ERA in 22 outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado 3B Jordan Pacheco did not start Thursday's game due to soreness in his right quadriceps.
2. Francis' next victory will be his 56th with the Rockies, tying him with Ubaldo Jimenez for third place on the franchise list.
3. San Diego 1B Yonder Alonso has gone 4-for-6 in his last two games after missing three with a sore left knee.