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Padres hope to get Volquez first win against Rockies

May 7, 2012 - 2:53 PM (Sports Network) - Edinson Volquez has showed a great deal of improvement over his last two starts, but is still searching for his first victory with the Padres.

Volquez tries to pick up that elusive win tonight when San Diego plays the first of three straight versus the Colorado Rockies.

Acquired from the Reds this past offseason, Volquez went 0-2 over his first four starts with the Padres with a 4.30 earned run average in that span. In addition, San Diego came out on the losing end in all four outings.

However, the Padres have picked up wins in each of the right-hander's last two appearances, even though Volquez himself has been held out of the win column despite giving up one run over 14 innings. He threw seven scoreless frames versus the Brewers on Tuesday, lowering his ERA to 2.92.

"Another impressive three-pitch mix, he kept them off-balanced. The fastball had velocity and he had a good curveball, good changeup," Padres manager Bud Black told his team's website. "If we can limit the baserunners, he has a chance to have games like that tonight."

Volquez, 28, is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA in four career starts against the Rockies.

San Diego entered its weekend series with Miami looking for a third straight win, but ended up getting swept in the three-game set. The Padres' 6-3 setback on Sunday was their sixth in eight games.

Joe Wieland allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings and also had a two-run double, while Andrew Cashner got the loss in relief after allowing four runs -- three earned -- while recording just two outs.

"You want success for your guys and it's frustrating when you lose games or you don't play well," said Padres catcher John Buck. "Fun to catch but a lot more fun to catch when you win."

The Rockies also failed to earn a win this past weekend, getting swept at home by the Braves for the first time since 2003. They allowed 29 runs in the three-game series, losing Sunday's finale 7-2.

Atlanta's Brandon Beachy held the Rockies off the scoreboard until the seventh inning, when Michael Cuddyer and Tyler Colvin drove in runs. Juan Nicasio allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks over five-plus innings to suffer the loss.

"There's a part of me that says you have to tip your cap to the job that (Beachy) did," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy. "What he did today is what we didn't do in the first two games of this series."

Colorado went 3-6 on its homestand to fall three games under .500 for first time this season.

Drew Pomeranz will try to get the Rockies a little closer to the even mark tonight with his first win of 2012. The 23-year-old southpaw hasn't gotten a decision in his past three starts since losing his season debut on April 15 versus Arizona.

Pomeranz was charged with five runs over 4 1/3 innings of that defeat, but has allowed just four earned runs over 15 2/3 frames since. He gave up one run over a career-high 6 2/3 innings versus the Dodgers on Wednesday, working around four hits and four walks in his club's 8-5 win.

He'll face the Padres for the first time.

The Rockies won two of three at home versus the Padres from April 16-18 and have taken 12 of their past 16 in San Diego.