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Rockies try to prevent another losing streak

Sep 16, 2008 - 1:43 PM San Diego (58-93) at Colorado (68-83) 8:35 p.m. EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- The brief reprieve from the Colorado Rockies' September misery lasted just one day. After snapping a seven-game losing streak with a walk-off, extra-inning victory on Sunday night, the Rockies on Monday fell to the San Diego Padres, 11-5.

On Tuesday night, the Rockies will try to get one back against the Padres in the second game of a three-game set.

After the Rockies won 14 of their last 15 games of the regular season last year, nothing was out of the question when they pulled to within five games of first place in the lowly National League West on September 2. But they have definitively answered any notions of a repeat performance - and the answer is no.

As the Los Angeles Dodgers (78-72) have gone on a run toward a probable division title, the Rockies have fallen back to fourth place, behind even the San Francisco Giants.

In trying to keep from starting another losing streak, the Rockies will turn to Ubaldo Jimenez (10-12, 4.18 ERA) on Tuesday. The 24-year-old righthander, now in his second full MLB season, had a strong showing in the middle of the season, giving up a total of eight runs over seven starts during one stretch.

But he has fallen back to earth since then, recording just two wins in his last seven outings. The last time he faced the Padres, an August 30 meeting at Petco Park, he lasted just 3 2/3 innings and gave up six runs, two hits and five walks in a 9-4 loss.

Veteran Padres lefthander Shawn Estes (2-2, 3.82) makes his third start since returning from a strained left elbow - which put him on the disabled list for more than three months. He made a strong impression in his first start back on September 4, holding the Milwaukee Brewers to one run over six innings in a 5-2 triumph.

However, six days later he dropped a 7-2 decision to the Dodgers, giving up five runs and six hits in five innings.