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Rox try to get off the schneid versus Padres

Jun 14, 2011 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rockies look to stop a three-game slide and get back to the .500 mark on their current 10-game homestand when they resume a three-game series versus the NL West-rival San Diego Padres at Coors Field.

After splitting a four-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend, the Rockies continued their downward spiral with Monday's 3-1 loss to the Padres in the series opener. Aaron Cook made his second start of the season for the Rox and suffered the loss for allowing two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Charlie Blackmon recorded his second career RBI with a run-scoring single in the fourth inning that plated Ty Wigginton. Blackmon and Chris Nelson both had two hits in defeat for a Rockies offense that faltered down the stretch after posting 30 runs during the four-game set with the Dodgers.

"When you go from the sixth inning on and two bases on balls is all you get from their bullpen, it's obviously going to make it very difficult to come back," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.

Carlos Gonzalez had a hit to extend his hitting streak to seven games. He is batting .469 with a home run, three RBI and five doubles in the streak.

Taking the hill for Colorado tonight will be Juan Nicasio. The rookie right- hander is 1-1 with a 3.50 earned run average in three starts and did not record a decision the last time out in a 9-7 win over Los Angeles on Thursday from the Rocky Mountains. Nicasio was reached for a season-high four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts through five innings.

Nicasio is 1-0 in two starts at Coors Field and has never faced San Diego.

"I think what helps you in [Coors Field] is making pitches, hitting good spots, whether you throw hard or you don't have great velocity," Padres manager Bud Black said on the club's site. "I've seen guys with lesser velocity pitch well here. I saw Greg Maddux pitch well here at the end, when he didn't have as much velocity. And I've seen guys who throw hard here get hammered."

Colorado will also host Detroit for three games on this homestand.

Meanwhile, the Padres got their nine-game road trip through Colorado, Minnesota and Boston off to a good start with last night's win behind five innings of one-run ball from winning starter Anthony Bass.

"[Bass] showed a good live fastball, a good hard slider," Black said of his major league debut. "I liked his composure and poise on the mound."

Cory Luebke and Mike Adams combined for three shutout innings of relief before closer Heath Bell closed the door in the ninth for his 18th save. Ryan Ludwick had two RBI despite watching his seven-game hit streak come to an end, while Alberto Gonzalez drove in a run for the Padres, who went 5-6 on an 11-game homestand before winning for the third time in eight tries Monday.

Taking the mound for Black's club tonight will be Wade LeBlanc. LeBlanc will get the call from Triple-A Tucson and is 0-1 with a 3.37 ERA after just one appearance this season. He faced Philadelphia at home back on April 24 and suffered the loss for allowing three runs and nine hits over a career-best eight innings of work in a 3-1 setback.

LeBlanc, a left-hander, has faced Colorado four times in his career -- all starts -- and owns a 1-2 mark with a 4.88 ERA.

The Padres have won four of seven meetings this season, with San Diego winning two of three at Coors Field from May 13-15.