San Diego Padres vs Colorado Rockies live streaming online audio radio baseball feed may 14, 2011. Game Review: The Colorado Rockies' lengthy run atop the NL West ended Thursday.
The Rockies are already back on top.
Troy Tulowitzki, 4 for 46 in his previous 12 games, went 3 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs -- his first multihit game since April 26 -- to help the Rockies record a season highs in both runs and hits (16).
Colorado batted .217 and averaged 2.8 runs during the 3-9 skid that preceded this three-game set.
"We all know we can be the best offensive team in the league. It's just that we need to show it," said reigning NL batting champ Carlos Gonzalez, who tripled Friday to raise his average to a career-low .231.
Looking to win consecutive games for the first time since April 25 and 26, Colorado will give the ball to Jhoulys Chacin (4-2, 2.68 ERA) on Saturday.
The right-hander limited the Mets to one run and two hits in six innings Monday, but also walked a career high-tying six, threw just 55 of 107 pitches for strikes and failed to earn a decision in Colorado's 2-1 victory.
Chacin will make his first career start against the Padres after posting an 8.10 ERA in three relief appearances against them.
He will face a San Diego team that, despite Friday's loss, has 26 runs and 47 hits in its last three games -- its best three-game stretch of the season in each of those categories.
Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin is coming off back-to-back four-hit efforts, including his first career two-homer game Friday. The last two games alone have raised his average 40 points to .273.
"I was just hitting a lot of balls to the left side of the field, so the approach was to back it up, trust my hands and trust my ability, just try to start using the whole field a little bit more," Maybin said.
Scheduled starter Aaron Harang (5-2, 4.07) would welcome another high-scoring game from the Padres. The right-hander benefited from some rare early run support in Sunday's 4-3 win over Arizona, as San Diego scored four times in the first inning. Harang got credit for the victory after allowing two runs over seven innings.
The right-hander is 4-2 with a 3.70 ERA in seven starts against Colorado, but lasted just 2 1/3 innings the last time he visited Denver, a 10-5 Cincinnati loss Sept. 6 in which he yielded four runs, four hits and three walks.
Rockies first baseman Todd Helton could be sidelined Saturday after leaving the series opener with tightness in his left calf.
"I don't think he pulled the calf, but he strained it a little bit, there's no question or he would not have come out of the game," manager Jim Tracy said.
If Helton can't go, Ty Wigginton, who returned from the disabled list Friday, could start in his place. Wigginton is 4 for 9 with a double and two homers off Harang.
The Rockies are already back on top.
Recent Trends | In DepthColorado tries to win its second straight Saturday when it continues its home series with the division rival San Diego Padres.
Colorado:
* COL are 9-3 in their last 12 Sat. games.
* COL are 2-6 in their last 8 overall.
* COL are 2-6 in their last 8 games on grass.
Head to Head:
* SD are 4-10 in the last 14 meetings.
In Short
3:10 PM ET W/L Units Home Away O/U RL W/L RL Units
San Diego 15-23 -7.53 7-14 8-9 18-17-3 16-22 -11.13
Colorado 20-16 -1.81 9-8 11-8 20-15-1 20-16 8.39
In Short: Away: San Diego [15-23 SU]Tied or leading the West since April 6, the Rockies (20-16) temporarily dropped out of the top spot Thursday with a 9-5 loss to the New York Mets. Colorado moved back ahead of San Francisco, which fell 11-4 at the Chicago Cubs earlier in the day, by percentage points after Friday night's 12-7 victory over the Padres (15-23).
Home: Colorado [20-16 SU]
Game Time: 3:10 PM
Stadium: Coors Field
Recent Meetings:
05/13/11 - SD 7 vs. COL 12
Team Leaders:
San Diego:
Home Runs: Ryan Ludwick (5)
Batting Avg: Chris Denorfia (.339)
Stolen Bases: Orlando Hudson (10)
Colorado:
Home Runs: Troy Tulowitzki (10)
Batting Avg: Alfredo Amezaga (.357)
Stolen Bases: Carlos Gonzalez (6)
Troy Tulowitzki, 4 for 46 in his previous 12 games, went 3 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs -- his first multihit game since April 26 -- to help the Rockies record a season highs in both runs and hits (16).
Colorado batted .217 and averaged 2.8 runs during the 3-9 skid that preceded this three-game set.
"We all know we can be the best offensive team in the league. It's just that we need to show it," said reigning NL batting champ Carlos Gonzalez, who tripled Friday to raise his average to a career-low .231.
Looking to win consecutive games for the first time since April 25 and 26, Colorado will give the ball to Jhoulys Chacin (4-2, 2.68 ERA) on Saturday.
The right-hander limited the Mets to one run and two hits in six innings Monday, but also walked a career high-tying six, threw just 55 of 107 pitches for strikes and failed to earn a decision in Colorado's 2-1 victory.
Chacin will make his first career start against the Padres after posting an 8.10 ERA in three relief appearances against them.
He will face a San Diego team that, despite Friday's loss, has 26 runs and 47 hits in its last three games -- its best three-game stretch of the season in each of those categories.
Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin is coming off back-to-back four-hit efforts, including his first career two-homer game Friday. The last two games alone have raised his average 40 points to .273.
"I was just hitting a lot of balls to the left side of the field, so the approach was to back it up, trust my hands and trust my ability, just try to start using the whole field a little bit more," Maybin said.
Scheduled starter Aaron Harang (5-2, 4.07) would welcome another high-scoring game from the Padres. The right-hander benefited from some rare early run support in Sunday's 4-3 win over Arizona, as San Diego scored four times in the first inning. Harang got credit for the victory after allowing two runs over seven innings.
The right-hander is 4-2 with a 3.70 ERA in seven starts against Colorado, but lasted just 2 1/3 innings the last time he visited Denver, a 10-5 Cincinnati loss Sept. 6 in which he yielded four runs, four hits and three walks.
Rockies first baseman Todd Helton could be sidelined Saturday after leaving the series opener with tightness in his left calf.
"I don't think he pulled the calf, but he strained it a little bit, there's no question or he would not have come out of the game," manager Jim Tracy said.
If Helton can't go, Ty Wigginton, who returned from the disabled list Friday, could start in his place. Wigginton is 4 for 9 with a double and two homers off Harang.
