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Rockies hope for rebound in San Diego

Jun 6, 2011 - 2:28 PM (Sports Network) - A scuffling offense has the Rockies as far back from first place in the National League West as they have been all season. A trip to spacious Petco Park, though, could be what the team needs.

Colorado will try to win a fourth straight game at San Diego tonight in the opener of a three-game series between these division rivals.

The Rockies are just 2-4 on a nine-game road trip and haven't scored more than three runs in any of their past seven games. They are hitting a collective .239 in that span, while averaging 1.9 runs per game.

It was much of the same on Sunday, when Colorado dropped a rubber match of a three-game series with San Francisco, 2-1 for its 12th loss in 16 games. That has the Rockies a season high-tying 5 1/2 games back of first place.

Chris Iannetta homered to account for Colorado's lone run, while Jason Hammel did not factor into the decision despite taking a no-hitter in to the sixth inning. He ended up allowing one run on two hits and two walks over seven innings, with Matt Lindstrom giving up the winning run in the eighth frame.

"You give up two runs, you should win. It's that simple," said Colorado manager Jim Tracy.

Though the Padres won two of three at Colorado from May 13-15, the Rockies won seven of their nine trips to San Diego a season ago and averaged 5.1 runs per game in those contests. The Rockies scored at least five runs in five of their seven wins at Petco Park and swept a three-game series their last trip there on Sept. 3-5.

San Diego, though, comes into this meeting have won eight of its last 11 contests and sits just one game back of Los Angeles and Colorado for third place in the division. The Padres opened up an 11-game homestand by taking three of four from the Astros, winning the final three meetings of the series.

Mat Latos picked up the victory on Sunday by hurling five innings of two-run ball before four relievers limited Houston to just three hits the rest of the way. Jason Bartlett, meanwhile, highlighted a three-run first inning with an RBI triple and ended with three hits and also scored twice.

San Diego manager Bud Black likes what he's seen from his team lately.

"I'm seeing the defense tighten up a little bit, I'm seeing us swinging the bats much better. The starting pitching has bounced back, our bullpen has remained constant. When those things occur, you're going to have success," he said.

Hoping to continue that success tonight is left-hander Clayton Richard, who earned a second straight no-decision on Wednesday in Atlanta. He gave up three runs on eight hits and four walks over just 4 2/3 innings of work.

"I think too many pitches were just elevated and they took advantage of them," Richard said of his performance.

A 14-game winner a season ago, Richard is 2-6 with a 4.52 earned run average in 12 starts this year, but has been solid at home despite having yet to pick up a win there. In five starts this year at Petco Park, the 27-year-old has a 2.42 ERA and 0-3 mark.

Richard has made eight career starts against the Rockies, going 1-2 with a 5.64 ERA.

Clayton Mortensen counters for Colorado and he has pitched to a 5.94 ERA while losing three straight starts. The latest came on Tuesday in Los Angeles as the righty was charged with a season-high five runs on five hits and four walks over just four innings. It also marked the third straight game at the Rockies have scored just one run while he was on the mound.

"Tonight was uncharacteristic of Clayton," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "We didn't pitch well enough to win and we didn't hit well enough to win. We got beat tonight."

The 26-year-old faces the Padres for the first time in his career and is 1-3 with a 3.69 ERA in eight games this season, including five starts.