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Rockies turn to Friedrich in finale at San Diego

May 9, 2012 - 2:55 PM (Sports Network) - The Rockies were hoping that a rotation shakeup might get things on track.

After one move failed to generate a victory in Tuesday's contest, Colorado will give Christian Friedrich the first start of his major league career today as the club tries to avoid getting swept in San Diego for the first time since 2006.

Friedrich gets the call after making five starts with Triple-A Colorado Springs this season. The 24-year-old lefty went 2-1 with a 3.00 earned run average, striking out 27 and issuing four walks over 30 innings in that time. That was an improvement over his 2011 season in Double-A, where he went 6-10 with a 5.00 ERA in 25 outings.

Friedrich was a first-round pick by the Rockies in 2008 out of Eastern Kentucky.

"They were probably excited in the beginning, but probably a little disappointed the last two years -- one year it was because of injuries and last year I just didn't have enough consistency," Friedrich told Colorado's website. "Getting up here is what I've wanted to do. This is what they've expected, and I hadn't met those expectations."

Colorado made its first alteration to its rotation on Tuesday, recalling Alex White from Triple-A to take the hill. Though White pitched well, giving up two runs over 6 1/3 innings, the Rockies still dropped their fifth straight contest thanks to a 3-1 loss.

"That's as good as I've seen Alex White since we acquired him. He was really, really good ... We had opportunities and it got away from us," said Colorado manager Jim Tracy.

Jeff Suppan, who made his first MLB appearance in over a year with five shutout innings to beat the Brewers last Wednesday, went five frames again and allowed a run on four hits and two walks.

"He's still finding his stamina, but he's got such a huge head on his shoulders. He knows how to change speeds ... he's got good pitching instincts," said Padres manager Bud Black of Suppan.

Will Venable went 2-for-4 with a run scored and another driven in for San Diego, which improved to 4-4 on a nine-game homestand that can end in a three- game sweep on Wednesday.

It would be the Padres' first at home over the Rockies since Sept. 4-6, 2006, and they had lost 12 of their previous 16 at home versus Colorado before this series.

The Padres go with right-hander Anthony Bass, who looks to rebound from his worst outing of the season.

In his fifth start of 2012 and eighth of his career, Bass was hammered for six runs -- five in the first inning -- on six hits and three walks over six innings on Friday versus the Marlins. The 24-year-old yielded two homers and struck out seven in a no-decision, but his club lost 9-8 despite Bass hitting a three-run triple.

Bass, who has fanned 34 in 33 1/3 innings this season, lost in Colorado on April 17, giving up three runs through five innings. Bass yielded four hits and walked three while striking out seven. He allowed the first runs of the game on a two-run homer by Dexter Fowler in the third frame.