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Rockies hope for series win over Padres

Jun 15, 2011 - 2:51 PM (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rockies were able to end a three-game slide with last night's win over the San Diego Padres and will go for a series victory this afternoon in the finale of a three-game set at Coors Field.

The Rockies got a strong start from Juan Nicasio in Tuesday's 6-3 win and he lasted six innings on the mound, allowing two runs and six hits with nine strikeouts and one walk. Matt Lindstrom, Rex Brothers and Huston Street combined to go three innings in relief and allowed one run.

Chris Iannetta hit a three-run homer off of Padres reliever Pat Neshek, while Todd Helton, Ty Wigginton and Charlie Blackmon each finished with two hits and an RBI for Colorado, which is 3-3 on a 10-game homestand and won for the seventh time in 13 tries.

"Just looking to try and get the barrel to it somehow," said Iannetta of the home run. "You know, [Neshek] is like a presentation guy, a lot of deception, the ball is coming from weird angles, you know, it's tough to see. So it was just a matter of trying to get the barrel to it, trying to see it first of all, and trying to get the barrel to it."

Colorado is six games off the pace in the National League West Division and will also host the Detroit Tigers for three games. It will send Jhoulys Chacin to the hill Wednesday afternoon and he's aiming for his third straight win after back-to-back losses. Chacin is coming off eight shutout innings with nine strikeouts in a 6-5 win over Los Angeles on Friday, lifting his mark to 7-4 with a 2.90 ERA in 13 starts.

Chacin is 0-0 with a 5.79 ERA in four career games (1 start) against the Padres and did not record a decision in a 9-7 loss to them on May 14. The righty allowed five runs -- three earned -- in six innings that day.

San Diego has lost four of five and six of its last nine games, and didn't get much help from Wade LeBlanc, who allowed three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 frames for the loss. Neshek allowed the three-run homer to Iannetta.

Chris Denorfia homered and Chase Headley recorded four hits for the Padres, who are 1-1 on a nine-game road trip against Colorado, Minnesota and Boston.

"Somehow, someway, we have to try and figure out how to get those big runs," said Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin, who had two doubles and a run scored in a losing effort. "One out, two out, you know, however we can do it, we have to try to figure out a way. We are trying. The effort is there."

Mat Latos has been giving a solid effort lately since a dreadful start to the season and will get the nod tonight for the Friars. Even though he lost his previous start in a 2-1 setback versus Washington on Friday, Latos delivered six innings of two-run ball and six strikeouts. Latos had won three straight starts before losing to the Nationals and is 4-7 with a 3.86 earned run average in 12 outings this season.

Latos, a right-hander, defeated Colorado on May 15 in an 8-2 win at Coors Field and allowed two runs -- one earned -- through 5 2/3 innings. He is 1-1 with a 4.02 ERA in three career starts against the Rockies.

The Padres and Rockies have split eight matchups this season.