Final
  for this game

Padres-Rockies Preview

Aug 16, 2015 - 6:27 AM Even while winning for the fourth time in five games, San Diego still suffered collateral damage.

It's been that kind of a season for the Padres.

Yonder Alonso's availability is in question for Sunday's series finale against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Twelve games back of a wild-card spot, the Padres (56-61) have little left to play for - likely not the situation they envisioned after acquiring Justin Upton, James Shields, Will Middlebrooks and Wil Myers during a splashy offseason.

San Diego has earned itself some goodwill lately, scoring seven-plus runs with 11 or more hits three times in the last four games, highlighted by the first cycle in club history Friday courtesy of Matt Kemp.

Brett Wallace put the Padres ahead Saturday with a pinch-hit single during a three-run ninth inning in a 7-5 win. Their seven straight victories against the Rockies match their run from July 12, 1997 to July 5, 1998, as the longest winning streak by either team in the series.

Upton went 2 for 5 and doubled, but was frustrated after being tagged out in an eighth-inning rundown. Upon returning to the dugout, he threw his helmet, which bounced and struck Alonso in the head. Alonso, batting .271 in 89 games, crumpled to the ground in pain, though he showed no concussion symptoms. He'll be re-evaluated Sunday.

Upton called it a "big mistake," while interim manager Pat Murphy described the outburst as "unacceptable."

"Most of the time showing that kind of anger is not healthy in my mind at all," Murphy said.

San Diego's Ian Kennedy (7-10, 4.37 ERA) worked in and out of trouble against Cincinnati lineup Monday, limiting the Reds to one run and two hits over five innings despite walking six in a 2-1 victory. He improved to 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA over his last five outings

Kennedy is 6-4 with a 2.87 ERA in 19 starts against Colorado, winning his third straight meeting May 1 in a 14-3 victory at Petco Park.

Coors Field wouldn't seem to be the best location for Kennedy considering he's allowed at least one home run in 11 straight starts, though his 1.1 homers allowed per nine innings all-time in Denver is well below his 2.0 mark overall this season. No Padre has ever allowed a home run in 12 straight starts.

Carlos Gonzalez, who is 1 for 18 in his last five games, is hitting .125 in 32 at-bats against Kennedy with 15 strikeouts.

The Rockies (47-68) have lost six straight, their most since a season-worst 11-game skid April 28-May 13.

Chris Rusin (3-5, 4.43) held the New York Mets to a 1-for-9 clip with runners in scoring position Tuesday, finding his way out of trouble to allow only one run despite giving up eight hits over six innings in the 4-0 loss. He had posted a 7.80 ERA over his previous three starts.

Rusin has been hit well by fellow left-handers lately. They're 12 for 24 with four extra-base hits in his last four starts after batting .273 against him previously.

He tossed 6 1-3 scoreless innings in his only previous matchup with the Padres, a 3-2 road loss with the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 25, 2013.

San Diego's .231 batting average against lefties ranks 28th.








  • SAN DIEGO: 0
    COLORADO: 5
    Final

    Aug 16 6:42 PM


  • Reyes singled to left, Rusin scored, Blackmon to second.

    Padres 0, Rockies 5  Bot 8, 0 OutsAug 16 6:30 PM


  • Jose Reyes singles to shallow left field. Charlie Blackmon to second. Chris Rusin scores.

    Padres 0, Rockies 5  Bot 8, 0 OutsAug 16 6:30 PM


  • McKenry doubled to right, Arenado scored, Paulsen scored, LeMahieu scored.

    Padres 0, Rockies 4  Bot 7, 2 OutsAug 16 6:09 PM


  • Michael McKenry doubles to deep right center field, advances to 3rd. DJ LeMahieu scores. Ben Paulsen scores. Nolan Arenado scores.

    Padres 0, Rockies 4  Bot 7, 2 OutsAug 16 6:09 PM
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    Padres 0, Rockies 1  Bot 6, 0 OutsAug 16 5:45 PM


  • Upton walked on four pitches, De.Norris to third, Kemp to second.

    Padres 0, Rockies 1  Top 6, 2 OutsAug 16 5:42 PM


  • On balk by Rusin, De.Norris scored, Kemp to third, Upton to second.

    Padres 1, Rockies 1  Top 6, 2 OutsAug 16 5:41 PM


  • Upton walked on four pitches, De.Norris to third, Kemp to second.

    Padres 0, Rockies 1  Top 6, 2 OutsAug 16 5:41 PM


  • On balk by Rusin, De.Norris scored, Kemp to third, Upton to second.

    Padres 1, Rockies 1  Top 6, 2 OutsAug 16 5:39 PM
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    Padres 0, Rockies 1  Top 6, 2 OutsAug 16 5:36 PM
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    Padres 0, Rockies 1  Top 6, 2 OutsAug 16 5:35 PM


  • Ca.Gonzalez homered to center on a 1-0 count.

    Padres 0, Rockies 1  Bot 4, 2 OutsAug 16 5:11 PM


  • Carlos Gonzalez homers to center field.

    Padres 0, Rockies 1  Bot 4, 2 OutsAug 16 5:11 PM


  • SAN DIEGO: 0
    COLORADO: 0
    Top 1, 0 Outs

    Aug 16 4:12 PM


  • Cory Spangenberg grounds out to shallow infield, Chris Rusin to Ben Paulsen.

    Aug 16 4:12 PM
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    Padres vs. RockiesJun 30 8:31 AM
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    Padres vs. RockiesDec 28 8:32 AM