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Roach makes first big league start in finale with Rox

May 18, 2014 - 2:41 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Donn Roach will make his first major league start on Sunday when the San Diego Padres play the rubber match of their three-game series with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Roach gets the nod in place of Andrew Cashner, who was placed on the disabled list Saturday with elbow soreness. Roach has appeared in 12 games out of the bullpen for the Padres this season and has posted a 1-0 mark to go along with a 2.57 ERA.

San Diego manager Bud Black is hoping to get at least 60 pitches out of the right- hander, whose longest stint this season was 4 1/3 innings. He did make 54 minor league starts last season.

"If it's an easy 60, he might keep going," Black said. "But I doubt we'll take him into the 80s.

"He threw two innings the other night and had two days off. He has started in his past and he's got a sinkerball where, if it's working, he should be efficient. We'll find out."

Colorado, meanwhile, will counter with righty Juan Nicasio, who is a perfect 3-0 in six starts against the Padres with a 2.89 ERA.

Nicasio had a personal two-game winning streak stopped on Sunday in Cincinnati, as he allowed four runs (2 earned) and five hits over six innings, dropping him to 4-2 on the year with a 3.77 ERA.

The 27-year-old hurler may get himself back into the win column on Sunday, as he is 3-0 with a 3.10 ERA in five home starts.

San Diego evened this series on Saturday, as Seth Smith and Carlos Quentin each hit a two-run homer and the Padres rolled to an 8-5 win.

Yonder Alonso hit a two-run double among his pair of two-baggers, while Robbie Erlin (3-4) allowed four runs on nine hits over five-plus innings for the Padres.

"A lot of two-out hits which was nice to see," Padres manager Bud Black said.

Troy Tulowitzki's solo shot highlighted his three-hit night, while Carlos Gonzalez pounded a two-run double among his two hits and three RBI for Colorado, which has dropped six of its last eight games.

Jordan Lyles (5-1) surrendered six runs on five hits and six walks over 3 1/3 innings to take the loss.

"He was having a hard time getting a feel for it tonight," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said of Lyles.

San Diego and Colorado split a four-game set at Petco Park in mid-April.