• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Padres-Rockies Preview

Jul 11, 2010 - 5:31 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

San Diego (50-36) at Colorado (48-38), 3:10 p.m. EDT

Heading into the All-Star break, the Colorado Rockies have a chance to gain a share of the NL West lead. The first-place San Diego Padres aren't likely to be in a sharing mood.

The Rockies look to extend their season-high winning streak by completing a three-game sweep of the Padres at Coors Field on Sunday.

Colorado (49-38) appeared to be in serious trouble when shortstop Troy Tulowitzki suffered a broken wrist June 17 and was ruled out until August. Instead of falling further back in the division race, the Rockies put together a 15-6 run to move within one game of first-place San Diego (50-37).

After winning the first two games of this series including a 4-2 victory Saturday, Colorado can pull even with the Padres by completing the sweep. The Rockies haven't been in first place at the All-Star break since 1995, while San Diego is assured of accomplishing owning at least a share of the division lead at the season's symbolic midpoint for the first time since 2007.

"(Sunday's) a big day," said Rockies closer Huston Street, who threw a perfect ninth inning Saturday for his fifth save in as many chances. "We finish strong, finish this first half on the right note, go into the break.

"This is the run we need to make, but we need to stay focused. It's really exciting because pretty near on the horizon you've got a Tulo coming back and everybody knows what he provides for this team. As good as we're playing right now, we can't wait to have him back."

With Tulowitzki sidelined, Carlos Gonzalez is providing a spark at the plate. The left fielder is hitting .415 with seven homers and 17 RBIs in 15 home games. His 16 homers on the season are three more than his previous career high from last year.

Colorado has won 15 of its last 18 at Coors, and is 4-1 at home against the Padres this season. The Rockies are seeking their first seven-game winning streak since an eight-game run Sept. 4-11.

Losers of four of five, the Padres don't appear nervous.

"Why should be we panicking?" starter Wade LeBlanc told the team's official website after taking the loss Saturday. "We're at the All-Star break. We've got three months left."

San Diego starter Clayton Richard (6-4, 3.00 ERA) will try to beat Colorado for the second time in less than two weeks.

The left-hander yielded two runs with a career-best 10 strikeouts in a 13-3 victory June 30. He pitched effectively but lost at Coors Field on April 9, allowing three runs in seven innings of a 7-0 defeat.

Richard enters this matchup coming off one of his worst performances of the season. He surrendered a season-high five earned runs and nine hits, including two homers, with six strikeouts in six innings while not getting a decision in a 6-5 loss at Washington.

"Clayton is our best-conditioned guy," manager Bud Black told the Padres' official website. "He's unbelievable. I think more than anything, he just couldn't find his release point."

Jeff Francis (2-3, 5.12) will take the mound trying to snap out of his slump. The left-hander is 0-1 with an 8.69 ERA in his last four starts, including a dismal effort opposite Richard at San Diego on June 30. Francis yielded eight runs and seven hits over a season-low three innings in that contest.

Francis is 2-5 with a 6.19 ERA in eight home starts against the Padres.

He was roughed up again Tuesday, giving up five runs and six hits in four innings before the Rockies rallied for a nine-run ninth to beat St. Louis 12-9.