San Diego @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2012 ) San Diego 5, Colorado 4
The red-hot San Diego Padres attempt to clinch the series victory Saturday when they take on the Colorado Rockies in the middle game of their three-game set at Coors Field. San Diego's 5-4 triumph on Friday was its 10th win in 11 games overall and third straight in Colorado, where it hasn't captured four in a row since 2001. The Padres have taken eight of the 13 meetings between the National League West rivals this season.
San Diego, which is 4-0 on its six-game road trip, faces a Colorado club that has won 12 of its last 18 contests. Friday's loss was the second straight for the Rockies, who haven't dropped three in a row since being swept by San Francisco from Aug. 3-5. Wilin Rosario has caught fire of late for Colorado. The rookie catcher has homered in three straight games while going 6-for-13 with six RBIs in that span. Rosario has hit safely in 11 of his last 14 contests.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN (San Diego), Root Sports (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Edinson Volquez (9-9, 4.10 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jhoulys Chacin (1-4, 5.55)
Volquez appears to be out of the funk that saw him allow four or more runs in four straight starts. The 29-year-old Dominican has given up a total of three runs and nine hits with 17 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings over his last two outings. Volquez has yielded three earned runs over 11 1/3 frames while going 2-0 against the Rockies this season.
Chacin has pitched well in two starts since returning from a chest injury that forced him to miss over 3 1/2 months. After allowing one run over six innings in a win at New York on Aug. 21, the 24-year-old Venezuelan yielded one run over five frames in a loss at Chicago five days later. Chacin, who is 1-1 lifetime against San Diego, has surrendered 12 runs over 12 2/3 innings in three home outings this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Diego 3B Chase Headley had an August to remember, hitting .306 with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs. Ken Caminiti set the club record for the month with 14 blasts and 38 RBIs in August 1996.
2. Rosario belted his team-high 23rd homer Friday, putting him two behind Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels for the lead among major league rookies.
3. Padres RHP Luke Gregerson had his scoreless innings streak snapped at 23 in Friday's victory.