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Slumping Padres look to break tie in the NL wild card standings

Sep 25, 2007 - 2:35 PM San Diego (85-71) at San Francisco (70-87) 10:15 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - The San Diego Padres will be looking to try and turn things around and make a strong push toward the postseason when they take on the San Francisco Giants in the second game of a three-game series on Tuesday.

Mired in a four-game losing streak, the Padres have fallen into a tie with the Philadelphia Phillies (85-71) in the National League wild card standings. San Diego is also just one-game ahead of the Colorado Rockies (84-72), who had swept the Padres this past weekend.

Less than one week ago, the San Diego Padres were in the midst of a seven-game winning streak, and held a 2 1/2-game lead over Philadelphia in the wild card race as recently as last Wednesday.

Brett Tomko (4-11, 5.36 ERA) will be looking to get San Diego back into the win column when he takes the hill. The veteran righthander has won his last two starts, including a victory over the Giants on September 15. Tomko pitched six shutout innings in that start, allowing just four hits with five strikeouts.

San Francisco will counter with Matt Cain (7-16, 3.68). The 22-year-old righthander has lost three of his last four starts and has an 0-3 record in five starts against the Padres this season. Cain was defeated by San Diego on September 15, giving up just one run and one hit in six innings.

The Giants defeated San Diego, 9-4, in the first game of the series on Monday.