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Rockies-Padres Preview

Jul 19, 2009 - 7:08 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Colorado (49-42) at San Diego (37-54), 4:05 p.m. EDT

Almost two months have passed since the San Diego Padres won consecutive games at home.

With highly touted pitching prospect Mat Latos set for his major league debut, the Padres look to finally do so again when they face Jason Marquis and the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.

Chase Headley's pinch-hit homer in the seventh inning helped San Diego (37-54) to a 3-1 victory Saturday night after it was outscored 15-4 in the first two games of this series.

The Padres, 4-13 in their last 17 games, haven't won consecutive contests at Petco Park since a 9-0 homestand from May 15-24.

San Diego turns to the 21-year-old Latos, called up from Double-A San Antonio to help the team's injury-riddled rotation, as it tries to end that streak. Latos, an 11th-round pick by San Diego in 2006, is considered the top pitching prospect in the Padres organization.

The right-hander, who pitched in last Sunday's All-Star Futures game in St. Louis, went a combined 8-1 with a 1.38 ERA at San Antonio and Single-A Fort Wayne in 13 games - 11 starts - this season.

"He's answered the call on everything we've asked him to do," vice president of scouting and player development Grady Fuson told the Padres' official Web site. "He's down in the strike zone, his velocity is great, his changeup is great. He's ready to be challenged."

The Padres lineup should be in for a challenge against Marquis (11-6, 3.65 ERA), who looks to become the majors' first 12-game winner.

"I just try to fill in and fit in (while) obviously looking to help the team win," Marquis told the Rockies' official Web site about his first season in Colorado.

Marquis, 5-3 with a 3.38 ERA in nine games versus San Diego, allowed six hits in eight innings of a 3-0 win over the Padres on May 29.

The right-hander, who was named to the All-Star team but didn't pitch in Tuesday's game, gave up three runs in six innings of a 4-3 loss to Atlanta on July 11 in his last outing.

Fellow All-Star Brad Hawpe drove in the lone run Saturday for the Rockies (49-42), who were held to four hits while suffering just their 10th loss in 39 games.

Hawpe, 5 for 11 with a homer and three RBIs in his last three contests, is batting .519 (14 for 27) with six RBIs in seven games against San Diego this season.

The Padres will be without infielder Edgar Gonzalez after he was hit in the head by a pitch from Colorado's Jason Hammel and carted off Saturday.

"It's something you don't want to see happen," Hammel said. "I hope he's all right. I'll be checking in on him."

Gonzalez's All-Star brother, Adrian, should be in the lineup for the Padres after leaving the game to be with him at the hospital.

Though he's batting .105 (4 for 38) in his last 11 contests, Adrian Gonzalez is 4 for 11 (.364) with a homer and five RBIs against Marquis.