Tue Jul 1 11:23:03 2008

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Padres, Rockies resume set at Coors Field

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(Sports Network) - Last season, San Diego and Colorado had to battle in an extra game to determine which team would get in the playoffs. This year, however, the only thing the clubs are fighting for is last place in the National League West. The Padres and Rockies continue their three-game series tonight at Coors Field.

San Diego entered yesterday's series opener in last place in the NL West, just a half-game back of Colorado. However, the teams switched positions after the Padres' 15-8 victory over the Rockies last night that halted the team's season-high eight-game losing streak. San Diego did so in solid fashion, setting a season-high in runs scored to go along with 22 hits.

It's a far cry from last year, when these two teams met in a one-game playoff to determine the NL wild card, a test won by Colorado to start its run to the World Series. The Rockies, though, have now lost eight straight themselves -- matching a season-high skid set from May 26-June 2 -- and are now an NL-worst 32-51 on the year.

Monday's test was tied at 8-8 heading into the ninth before San Diego erupted for seven runs in the frame. Khalil Greene started the scoring on an RBI single with one out. Michael Barrett and Craig Stansberry followed with consecutive run-scoring hits before Jody Gerut broke things open with a three- run homer. Edgar Gonzalez followed with a solo shot, his second home run of the game.

Gonzalez finished 4-for-5 with three RBI while posting his first career multi- homer game. Brian Giles added four hits with an RBI and a run scored while Kevin Kouzmanoff was 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored in San Diego's second win in its last 14 games. Kouzmanoff now has a hit in 10 straight games, hitting .390 (16-for-41) in that time with three homers and nine RBI.

San Diego will try to keep its suddenly hot bats going tonight against a Colorado starter it struggled against last time. Aaron Cook goes for the Rockies and he defeated San Diego on May 9 after holding the club to just a run on three hits over seven innings. Giles drove home that run with a double and is a lifetime .417 hitter (15-for-36) against Cook.

The right-handed Cook has lost his last two outings after winning four straight decisions. He allowed six runs in a loss to the Mets on June 20 before yielding four runs (3 earned) on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings of a setback to the Royals on Wednesday.

Cook fell to 10-5 with a 3.64 earned run average on the season. Lifetime, he is 9-3 with a 2.60 ERA in 15 starts and two relief outings against the Padres.

The 29-year-old will take the offensive output Colorado put forth yesterday. Brad Hawpe hit a three-run homer, Chris Iannetta stroked a three-run double and both Todd Helton and Troy Tulowitzki added RBI hits for Colorado.

Brian Fuentes (1-4) took the loss, allowing the Padres to bust open a tie game with five runs on five hits in just one-third of an inning.

Colorado faces San Diego's Josh Banks, who is 2-2 with a 2.33 ERA in seven games, including five starts, this year. The waiver-wire pickup allowed just four runs over his first three starts of 2008, but has allowed six in his last two games, both losses.

The right-hander faced Minnesota on Thursday and gave up four runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings of work. Banks will make his first career appearance against Colorado tonight.

The Padres have a slim 4-3 edge over the Rockies this year after Colorado went 11-8 against San Diego last season.