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Rockies look for two straight against Padres

Jul 24, 2007 - 3:48 PM San Diego (53-45) at Colorado (50-49) 9:05 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) - The Colorado Rockies took a bite out of the San Diego Padres bullpen on Monday. They'll go for two in a row when they host the Padres again on Tuesday.

The Rockies looked down and out in the eighth inning on Monday against a San Diego bullpen that owns the majors' best ERA and had allowed just 19 homers in 311 1/3 innings up to that point.

Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe increased that home run number to 21 in a five-run eighth that vaulted Colorado to the win and kept them close in the National League West race.

The Padres will start Chris Young (9-3, 1.85 ERA) on Tuesday, hoping the tall righthander can give the relief corps a rest. The 28-year-old has not lost a start since May 12 against St. Louis and leads the major leagues in ERA.

Young has allowed just two hits in each of his last two starts, a no decision at Arizona on July 12 and a win against Philadelphia last Thursday. He has been tough in his career against the Rockies, owning a 4-0 career mark with a 2.65 ERA in six career starts.

The Rockies will counter with rookie Ubaldo Jiminez (0-0, 3.60). The 23-year-old righthander made his season debut on Thursday at Washington, allowing two runs and four hits in five frames.

The Dominican hurler throws hard and has yet to show much control, walking three in his first start after issuing 62 free passes in 103 innings at Class AAA Colorado Springs.