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Rockies hope to turn fortunes around at home vs. Padres

Aug 10, 2008 - 7:42 AM San Diego (45-72) at Colorado (53-66) 3:05 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- A 10-game homestand was supposed to be the springboard to the Colorado Rockies making another second-half run in the National League West. Six games into their extended stay at Coors Field, they have done more losing than winning.

The Rockies attempt to turn things around on Sunday when they target a series win in the series finale against the San Diego Padres.

Following its last-season heroics from a season ago in which it won 21 of its final 22 games, Colorado had hoped a long stay at home against two of the worst teams in the NL would allow it to carve into the seven-game gap in the division behind Arizona (59-58).

Instead, the Rockies have gone 2-4 against Washington and San Diego, leaving the team with the same deficit behind the Diamondbacks they started the homestand with on Monday.

To get back on the winning track, Colorado will turn to Livan Hernandez, who is making his debut for the Rockies after being acquired off waivers on Wednesday from the Minnesota Twins.

In his last start on July 30 before being designated for assignment two days later by the Twins, the righthander surrendered five runs and nine hits over four frames in an 8-3 setback to Cleveland, ending his time with Minnesota after going 10-8 with a 5.48 ERA.

The Padres will counter with Chris Young (4-4, 4.06 ERA), who will be searching for his first victory in four starts since May 16. The righthander took his second straight no-decision on Tuesday after permitting two runs and one hit with five walks and five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in a 6-5 loss to the Mets.