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Padres continue series with Royals

Jun 28, 2011 - 2:47 PM (Sports Network) - The San Diego Padres are doing everything they can to climb out of the basement in the National League West.

A few more games against the Kansas City Royals, including tonight's middle test of a three-game series, could do the trick. The Padres are 10 games off the lead in the NL West and a game behind Los Angeles for basement distinction. They remained there after Monday's 4-3 win coupled with LA's triumph in Minnesota.

Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run homer in the first inning and starting pitcher Mat Latos held on for the win with six innings of three-run ball. Latos struck out six batters and walked two to lift his record to 5-8.

"That was big for sure, getting the lead for [Latos]. Matt's a pretty good frontrunner when he gets runs," Padres manager Bud Black said of Ludwick's blast that propelled the team to its second straight win and fifth in six tries.

Ernesto Frieri, Mike Adams and closer Heath Bell each threw a scoreless inning of relief, with Bell notching his 21st save. The right-hander has converted his previous 14 save opportunities, 21 of the past 22 and 55 of 56 chances dating back to last May for San Diego, which will begin a 10-game road trip against the Mariners, Giants and Dodgers after this set.

Clayton Richard hasn't enjoyed such luck this season and will take the mound for San Diego tonight. Searching for back-to-back wins for the first time this season, Richard was 0-5 with a 3.79 ERA in six starts -- all Padres losses -- before returning to the win column in last Wednesday's 5-1 win at Boston. He allowed one run over five innings to improve to 3-9 with a 4.21 ERA in 16 starts this season.

Richard hasn't enjoyed much success at Petco Park, going 0-7 in seven starts there this season. San Diego has dropped each of Richard's last 11 starts at home dating back to last August. The Padres also lost 11 straight of Bill Greif's home starts back in 1972. Richard's winless mark at home is the longest in the majors since Pittsburgh dropped 13 in a row in the Steel City with Kip Wells toeing the rubber from July 1, 2002-July 2, 2003. Richard is 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA in six career games (3 starts) against the Royals.

Kansas City opened a nine-game road swing on a sour note and received another poor performance from Jeff Francis. The lefty allowed four runs -- three earned -- and five hits in five innings to drop to 3-9 on the season.

"I didn't have a very good feel for [my curveball] today," Francis said. "I just held on to it a little too long."

Brayan Pena knocked in a pair of runs, while Melky Cabrera, Chris Getz and Mike Moustakas each had two hits for the Royals, who had a modest two-game winning streak halted and lost for the ninth time in 12 attempts. The Royals will also visit the Rockies and White Sox on this trek.

Felipe Paulino is still searching for his first win of the season and will take the mound Tuesday. Paulino is 0-5 with a 4.35 ERA in 24 games (5 starts) with both Kansas City and Colorado this season. In six games, five of which have been starts, with KC, he is 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA.

Paulino last pitched in Thursday's 5-3 loss versus Arizona and suffered the defeat for giving up five runs and nine hits over eight innings. He also struck out eight batters. The righty faced San Diego in relief this season and is 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two career games (1 start) in this matchup.

The Padres took all three games from the Royals in 2004 at San Diego after the Royals won two of three at home two seasons earlier. The Padres have won four straight at home over the Royals.