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Padres eye fifth win in a row in opener with Rockies

Sep 14, 2012 - 3:02 PM (Sports Network) - The San Diego Padres try to stretch their winning streak to five games in a row on Friday night when they open a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies.

The Padres are coming off a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, who own the NL's second wild card position, and capped the three-game set with Wednesday's 3-2 win.

Logan Forsythe hit a solo homer and Yasmani Grandal drove in the winning run in the sixth inning as San Diego won for the seventh time in eight games.

Clayton Richard gave up two runs on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts over seven innings of work to win for the fourth time in his past five starts.

"Our offense got some big hits here today and have been doing that a lot lately," said Richard. "This is a good win and we're on a bit of a roll right now."

Andrew Cashner will hope to keep the win streak intact as he makes his fifth start of the season and second since a stint on the disabled list caused by a strained right lat muscle.

Making his first start since early July on Friday, the right-handed Cashner did not factor into a 6-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks despite a solid outing. He did not give up a hit to the first 11 batters faced and yielded two runs on four hits with five strikeouts over five innings.

Cashner began the season in the bullpen and is 3-3 with a 3.46 earned run average in 31 total outings this season.

The 26-year-old will make his first career start against the Rockies, having faced them in relief four times prior.

Colorado lost for the eighth time in 10 games on Wednesday with an 8-3 setback to the San Francisco Giants. Jeff Francis gave up five runs in the first inning and pitched just three frames total.

Wilin Rosario homered and knocked in two runs in defeat.

"It's always tough when you're down by that many runs," Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez said. "Obviously you want to have the game close so you feel much better at the plate."

Tyler Chatwood gets the call tonight for the Rockies and last took the hill for the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday at the Philadelphia Phillies. The righty tried to offset some control issues by driving in a run at the plate, but on the mound he yielded two runs on three hits and four walks over five innings and 75 pitches.

Chatwood did not get a decision in the 3-2 loss and is 4-4 with a 5.32 ERA in 15 games (8 starts) this season.

The 22-year-old has faced the Padres twice this season, both relief appearances, and has allowed three runs in two frames without a decision.

San Diego is 8-7 versus Colorado this season.