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Rockies-Padres Preview

Sep 13, 2009 - 6:56 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Colorado (82-60) at San Diego (63-79), 4:05 p.m. EDT

Two years ago, the Colorado Rockies lost one game during their surge to the NL wild card en route to clinching the first pennant in franchise history.

After falling short of another comeback victory, the Rockies will try to extend their wild-card lead as Jason Marquis goes for a career-high 16th win in Sunday's series finale against the host San Diego Padres.

Colorado (82-61) saw its eight-game winning streak end Saturday night with a 3-2 loss in 10 innings. It nearly became another comeback victory in another September run.

Yorvit Torrealba drove in Dexter Fowler with an RBI single in the ninth off closer Heath Bell, but Colorado reliever Franklin Morales walked the game's final three batters - one intentionally - including pinch hitter Nick Hundley with the bases loaded.

"When you get the win against a contending team, a team that's hot and playing as well and as talented as the Rockies, you can't ever take that for granted," Hundley said.

With the loss and Los Angeles' win in San Francisco earlier in the night, the Rockies dropped three games behind the Dodgers in the NL West but have a 5 1/2-game lead over the Giants and Florida in the wild card race.

Colorado, which won 14 of 15 to end the 2007 season, had extended its win streak by recording comeback victories in three straight games heading into Saturday.

"Going back to (Friday) night, we lived on the edge offensively. Offensively, we came up short," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.

Marquis (15-10, 3.65 ERA) will try to continue his dominance this season over the Padres. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in two starts against them.

After losing consecutive starts, Marquis reached 15 wins for the second time in his career Tuesday against Cincinnati by striking out a season-high seven while yielding one run and four hits over 7 1-3 innings of the 3-1 victory.

"What we saw tonight versus what we saw in his previous start was simply this - do exactly what got you to this point in the season. That is, trust your stuff," Tracy told Colorado's official Web site.

Marquis also posted 15 wins with St. Louis in 2004.

Searching for their 13th win in 18 games, the Padres (64-79) will counter with inconsistent Clayton Richard (4-2, 5.40), who will make his first career appearance against Colorado.

Richard, acquired in July from the White Sox for injured Cy Young winner Jake Peavy, has alternated wins and losses in his last four starts. While the left-hander has a 0.71 ERA in the victories, he's posted a 17.05 ERA in the defeats and gave up six runs and eight hits over four innings in Monday's 9-4 loss in San Francisco.

Bell, who has converted 37 of 42 in save opportunities in his first season as the Padres' closer in place of Trevor Hoffman, has blown back-to-back chances with Torrealba getting the key hit each time.

The Rockies catcher, who had a three-run double Friday, is 14 for 19 with runners in scoring position since May 29.