San Diego @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2010 ) Colorado 4, San Diego 2
The Colorado Rockies are making their annual late-season surge as they head into a three-game set against the slumping San Diego Padres on Monday.
The series could shed some light on the NL West playoff picture.
The Rockies have won 10 straight games, one off tying a franchise record, and are now 1 1/2 games behind of the Padres, who are now tied with the San Franciso Giants at the top of the division.
For its part, San Diego has dropped 13 of its last 17 games and is trying to pull it together before it’s too late.
Jason Giambi played the role of the hero for the Rockies on Sunday, cranking a two-run walk-off home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks to extend the winning streak.
Colorado (79-64) has allowed more than four runs only twice over its current winning streak and sends Jeff Francis (4-4, 4.56 ERA) to the mound on Monday.
The 6-foot-5 left-hander hasn’t started since throwing a no-decision against the New York Mets on Aug. 11.
Francis allowed two runs and three hits over six innings while striking out five in a 6-2 win, but the Rockies are more concerned about his surgically-repaired shoulder holds together down the stretch run. Subsequently, Francis will be working with a 60-70 pitch count against the Padres.
He is 0-1 with a bloated 12.38 ERA in two career starts against the Padres this season.
San Diego (80-62) goes with rookie Corey Luebke (1-1, 3.27 ERA), who is making his third career MLB start. He allowed only two hits over six innings while striking out seven in a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In his first career start, the Rockies got to him with two-run homers from Giambi and Troy Tulowitzki in handing him his first loss in a 4-0 decision.
Tulowitzki has been a big part of Colorado’s recent streak. He is hitting .368 with eight homers and 17 RBIs over the last 11 games.
Carlos Gonzalez continues to make a late outside run at the National League triple crown, coming into Monday’s game with a .337 batting average with 32 homers and 100 RBIs. Gonzalez is hitting .333 with four home runs and 14 RBIs against San Diego.
Adrian Gonzalez is doing his best to carry the Padres’ offense. He is hitting .364 over the last week and checks in at .305 with 27 home runs and 90 RBIs this season.
Colorado has won 11 of 15 meetings with the Padres this season.