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Rockies-Padres Preview

Sep 11, 2009 - 12:42 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Colorado (80-60) at San Diego (63-78), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rockies have seized control of the NL wild card race with a timely seven-game winning streak. A good performance in San Diego this weekend could have them setting their sights even higher.

The majors' hottest team will look to continue its push toward the top of the NL West on Friday with the opener of a nine-game road trip, which starts with three against the suddenly surging Padres.

Colorado's impressive run has helped it open a 4 1/2-game lead on San Francisco in the wild card chase, and with just a two-game deficit in the division, the Rockies (81-60) have begun thinking about catching Los Angeles.

The Dodgers have held an often sizable lead nearly all year, but the Rockies have steadily chipped away under new manager Jim Tracy. Since Tracy replaced the fired Clint Hurdle on May 29, Colorado is 63-32, easily the best record in the NL over that span.

The Rockies' torrid September run in 2007 earned them the franchise's first playoff berth in 12 years, and they look primed for a similar burst after opening the month with a 9-1 homestand.

Their pitchers have a 2.90 ERA in those games, and they finished a four-game sweep of Cincinnati with a 5-1 victory Thursday. Garrett Atkins hit a two-run homer and Jason Giambi had a double and two RBIs as part of a patchwork lineup with Troy Tulowitzki and Ian Stewart injured and Todd Helton getting the day off.

"We are playing great baseball," said Giambi, who was signed on Aug. 24. "I'm excited that we are doing the little things, moving runners, getting big hits when we need it and getting great pitching. That's what you want to do down the stretch."

Jorge De La Rosa (14-9, 4.51 ERA) will take the mound for Colorado and try to continue the strong run after winning twice on the homestand, allowing a total of two earned runs in 11 innings.

The left-hander had control problems in his last start Sunday against Arizona, walking six in five innings of a 13-5 win, but he's still 12-2 with a 3.34 ERA in his last 14 starts.

"It's good to have that kind of run support, but I've got to fix my problems," De La Rosa told the Rockies' official Web site.

He'll try to pitch deeper on Friday after Colorado's bullpen worked six scoreless innings in Thursday's victory. Starter Jose Contreras left after three innings with a quadriceps injury.

De La Rosa will have the luxury of facing a San Diego lineup that is last in the majors with 550 runs, but he's 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in three starts against the Padres this year. The Rockies are 8-4 in the season series.

San Diego (63-78) hasn't been easy to beat lately, however, taking two of three on the road from the Dodgers and Giants in its last two series. The Padres have won 11 of 15 overall.

"We're playing teams with a legitimate shot at the playoffs," second baseman David Eckstein told the Padres' official Web site. "It's important for us to play in games like this. This has been a nice run for us."

They'll hand the ball to Edward Mujica for a spot start in place of rookie Mat Latos, who was shut down for the season to limit his innings.

Mujica (3-4, 3.51) will be making his first major league start after 116 relief appearances over the last four years. His longest outing this year has been 4 1-3 innings, so he'll probably need some help from San Diego's bullpen.

Padres relievers have a 2.26 ERA in the club's last 21 games.