San Diego @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 29, 2012 ) San Diego 2, Colorado 10

The Colorado Rockies will try to continue their offensive onslaught when they host the San Diego Padres on Saturday in the second of a three-game series. The Rockies have scored 21 runs in their last two contests – a two-game winning streak for the first time since June 3-4 – and have scored 48 runs in their last seven games.

The Rockies lead the National League in runs with 390 but their major league-worst 5.39 ERA is the reason they are tied for the third-fewest wins in baseball with 30. The Padres, who are second-worst with 28 wins, are at the other end of the spectrum with a major league-low 263 runs, but are tied for sixth in the National League with a 3.97 ERA.

Rockies rookie Christian Friedrich defeated the Padres 6-2 in San Diego on May 9 in his first major league start. He will oppose the Padres’ Edinson Volquez, who beat Colorado two days earlier.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Fox

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Edinson Volquez (4-7, 3.82 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Christian Friedrich (4-5, 5.86)

Volquez is coming off his strongest start of the season when he pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings in a 2-0 victory over Seattle on Sunday. He has alternated quality starts in his last four outings. Volquez hasn’t allowed a home run in his last three starts after yielding only seven in his previous 13 outings this season. The Rockies’ roster is hitting .255 against him without a home run in 51 at-bats.

Friedrich allowed four runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings in his last start, a 12-5 loss to Washington on Tuesday. He has lost his last four starts after winning four of his first five career decisions. Friedrich allowed two runs (one earned), five hits and struck out seven in six innings against San Diego. Colorado native Chase Headley went 2-for-2 with a walk.

WALK-OFFS

1. Colorado’s Carlos Gonzalez is 28-for-75 in his last 17 games and is sixth in the National League in hitting with a .338 average.

2. The Rockies and Padres are 13 and 16 games, respectively, behind the first-place San Francisco Giants in the National League West.

3. Colorado’s Tyler Colvin, who set career highs with four hits and five RBIs in Thursday’s 11-10 victory over Washington, tripled for the second straight game Friday and is 21-for-54 with 17 RBIs in his last 13 games.