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Padres-Rockies Preview

Apr 8, 2010 - 7:50 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

San Diego (1-2) at Colorado (1-2), 4:10 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rockies jumped out to early leads in all three games of their first series, yet left with just one victory.

Perhaps playing at home will provide some more stability.

The Rockies were one of the NL's top home teams in 2009, and they'll look to get off to a good start at Coors Field on Friday afternoon with the first of three against the San Diego Padres.

Colorado (1-2) went 51-30 in Denver last season en route to making the playoffs as the wild card, and it figures to rely on one of the league's premier home-field advantages again in 2010.

The Rockies aren't off to a great start as they make their 2010 home debut, which is odd considering they've started impressively in each of their first three games. A two-run, second-inning lead held up on opening day in a 5-3 win at Milwaukee, but Colorado dropped the series' last two contests - 7-5 on Tuesday despite an early 1-0 lead, and 5-4 on Wednesday after scoring three times in the top of the first.

"That's why you play for six months, and that's why you play 162 times, so that the teams that get really good are the ones that realize we know where we were at in this game," manager Jim Tracy told the Rockies' official Web site. "This happens once early, grabs our attention and we realize, 'What is it that we didn't do in that Milwaukee series to put that series away?'"

Shaky defense has played a part in Colorado's struggles. The Rockies have committed four errors in three games after making 87 miscues last season - fifth-fewest in the NL.

"I can't remember a series where we had this many errors, so that's a little tough to take," said Troy Tulowitzki, whose fielding percentage (.986) in 2009 was second-best in the majors at shortstop. "At the same time, it is the opening series."

Tracy will hand the ball to Jorge De La Rosa (16-9, 4.38 ERA) on Friday hoping the left-hander can build on a strong second half to 2009.

De La Rosa went 10-2 with a 3.46 ERA after the All-Star break, and was 9-1 with a 3.80 ERA after July 3 at home.

"I never worry about where I'm pitching, but I like pitching (at Coors Field)," said De La Rosa, who was 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA in five starts against San Diego last season. "I just have to keep the ball down, get ground balls."

The Padres (1-2) were 4-5 at Coors Field last season - Adrian Gonzalez had four homers and drove in 12 runs there - and they'll also be looking to even their record Friday.

After splitting two games in Arizona, San Diego took a 3-1 lead in the second inning Wednesday on Scott Hairston's three-run homer. That was the only offense the Padres could find, however, as they lost 5-3.

San Diego will send Clayton Richard (9-5, 4.41) to the hill hoping he can progress from a solid two months (5-2, 4.08 ERA) after coming over in the trade that sent Jake Peavy to the Chicago White Sox.

Richard faced the Rockies twice, going 0-0 with a 4.09 ERA.

"I was starting to figure some stuff out over in Chicago before I got traded and I'm just trying to carry that over," Richard said. "I am extremely excited."

Colorado has won five of its last seven home openers.