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Padres-Rockies Preview

Apr 29, 2009 - 6:00 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

San Diego (10-9) at Colorado (7-11), 3:10 p.m. EDT

It's been almost two weeks since the San Diego Padres won consecutive games, let alone a series.

The Padres have a chance to do both as they conclude a three-game road set with the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.

Pinch-hitter Luis Rodriguez's RBI single in the ninth inning helped San Diego (11-9) rally for a 4-3 victory over Colorado on Tuesday.

The win snapped a four-game road losing streak for the Padres, who won for the second time in eight games after starting 9-3. San Diego last won two in a row during a three-game winning streak from April 16-18, which included consecutive victories at Philadelphia to secure the club's last winning series.

On Tuesday, Scott Hairston hit a two-run homer to raise his average to .400 (16-for-40). Hairston is platooning with left-handed hitting Jody Gerut in center field and will likely be out of the lineup Wednesday against Colorado right-hander Aaron Cook.

Gerut, who's batting .263, is 2-for-13 lifetime against Cook (0-1, 8.35 ERA).

Facing San Diego might present Cook with a strong opportunity to finally record his first victory in his fifth start.

Cook, who won a career-high 16 games in 2008, is 11-4 with a 2.37 ERA in 18 starts against the Padres, but has been inconsistent early this season.

He allowed three runs and seven hits while walking six in six innings, but didn't factor in the decision of a 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

"It's not the outcome I wanted, but I feel like I got over a little bit of a hump," said Cook, who felt he finally had command of his sinker. "Hopefully, I carry that on to the next start."

Dexter Fowler, Todd Helton and Seth Smith each had two hits Tuesday for Colorado (7-12), which scored 22 runs in winning its previous two contests.

Fowler, who stole five bases in a 12-7 series-opening victory Monday, did not have a steal in his latest contest, but is 7-for-13 with five runs scored over his last three games.

Colorado outfielder Brad Hawpe is likely to miss a second straight game after being hit in the neck Monday by San Diego catcher Nick Hundley's throw to second. Hawpe is hitting .328 with a team-leading 16 RBIs.

"I just have to wait and see what the trainers say, but I feel a lot better than I did (Monday)," Hawpe told the Rockies' official Web site.

Kevin Correia (0-1, 4.50) takes the ball for the Padres after he allowed three runs and three hits while walking four in five innings of a 4-3, 11-inning win over Pittsburgh on Friday. He's walked 10 batters in 16 innings over three starts.

"I'm walking guys, but it's not a command issue, it's a decision issue," the right-hander told the Padres' official Web site. "I have never pitched like that in my career. I think I'm trying to make the perfect pitch."

Correia, in his first season with his hometown team after spending his first six with San Francisco, is 1-1 with a 2.52 ERA in five starts against Colorado.