GAME THREAD: NL: COLORADO (80-72) at SAN DIEGO (84-67)

NL: COLORADO (80-72) at SAN DIEGO (84-67)

<h3>Rockies look to cut into wild card lead against Padres</h3>

<div class="pre">Colorado (81-72) at San Diego (85-67) 10:05 pm EDT</div>

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - The two hottest teams in major leaguebaseball are setting up for a weekend showdown, with theColorado Rockies taking one last stab at the National Leaguewild card.


The wild card-leading San Diego Padres will send leading NL CyYoung Award candidate Jake Peavy to the mound when they open upa three-game series against the visiting Rockies on Friday.

Colorado has won five games in a row, largely due to theperformance of slugger Matt Holliday, who leads the NL inhitting with a .339 average and has pushed himself into theforefront of the MVP race with 11 homers in his last 12 games.He ranks fourth in the NL with 36 blasts.


Peavy (18-6, 2.39 ERA) has won his last two starts, allowing atotal of three runs in 14 1/3 innings. The 26-year-oldrighthander leads the NL in all three pitching triple crowncategories, but has had a hard time against Holliday in hiscareer, allowing the All-Star a .462 average (6-for-13) with ahomer.


The Padres are riding a seven-game winning streak, sweepingback-to-back series against San Francisco and Pittsburgh to openup a 2 1/2-game lead in the wild card over the PhiladelphiaPhillies (83-70) and a 4 1/2-game edge over the Rockies.

San Diego has also moved to within one-half game of the ArizonaDiamondbacks (86-67) in the West Division.


Colorado will try to end the Padres' streak with 21-year-oldFranklin Morales (2-2, 3.81). The rookie lefthander has won hislast two starts, combining for 11 scoreless innings atPhiladelphia and against the Florida Marlins.

 

NL: COLORADO (80-72) at SAN DIEGO (84-67)

<h3>Padres still trying to overtake top spot in NL West</h3>



<div class="pre">Colorado (82-72) at San Diego (85-68) 10:05 pm EDT</div>

<div class="pre">SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - The San Diego Padres will hope their</div>heart-breaking loss Friday does not stop their moment when theylook for revenge against the Colorado Rockies in the second of athree-game series Saturday.


The Padres had their seven-game winning streak snapped when BradHawpe blasted a home run in the 14th inning of the Rockies' 2-1triumph on Friday.


The loss dropped San Diego to 1 1/2 games behind thedivision-leading Arizona Diamondbacks (87-67) in the NationalLeague West. Colorado sits in third place, five games back andvirtually out of the division race.


San Diego leads Philadelphia (84-70) by 1 1/2 games in the wildcard race.


Hawpe, who drove in both runs in Friday's contest, has two hitsin his last three games and is batting .280 with 27 homers and103 RBI.


Padres rookie starter Jack Cassell (1-0, 2.87 ERA) will hope tobuild off his best career outing. The 27-year-old righthanderhurled six scoreless innings, yielding eight hits with no walksand three strikeouts in a 3-0 victory over the PittsburghPirates on Monday.


The rookie will be opposed by lefthander Mark Redman (1-4,9.28), who is making just his second start since May 1. Redmanwas tagged for four runs and seven hits in Tuesday's 9-8 winover the Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

NL: COLORADO (83-72) at SAN DIEGO (85-69)

<h3>Maddux will hope to keep Padres atop wild card race</h3>



<div class="pre">Colorado (83-72) at San Diego (85-69) 4:05 pm EDT</div>

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - The San Diego Padres' playoff run is injeopardy and the Colorado Rockies are breathing life in theirpostseason hopes.


The Rockies will look for their eighth consecutive win Sundaywhen they wrap up a critical three-game series with the Padres.

Both clubs enter this series rolling, but Brad Hawpe hasprovided the surge for Colorado in the first two games. Hawpe's14th-inning homer lifted the Rockies to a 2-1 win Friday and hewent 4-for-4 with two RBI in Saturday's 6-2 triumph.

With the pair of losses, San Diego slipped 2 1/2 games behindthe Arizona Diamondbacks (88-67) in the National League West.It also saw its lead in the wild card over the PhiladelphiaPhillies (85-70) sliced to one-half game.


San Diego will turn to future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux (13-10,3.95 ERA) to contain Hawpe and the rest of the potent Coloradooffense. The 41-year-old righthander, who is bothered by a sorelower back, has won six of his last seven decisions.

If Maddux is to log his 347th career win, it could not have comeat a better time for the Padres.


Lefthander Jeff Francis (16-8, 4.25) will get the start forColorado, which trails San Diego by 2 1/2 games in the wild cardrace. The 26-year-old Francis yielded just one run and sixhits with a season-high 10 strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings in a3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">COLORADO AT SAN DIEGO -- LINEUPS

COLORADO SAN DIEGO
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Kaz Matsui 2B .292 4 34 Brian Giles RF .273 11 44
Troy Tulowitzki SS .292 22 90 Milton Bradley LF .307 10 29
Todd Helton 1B .316 15 83 Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B .270 17 68
Garrett Atkins 3B .293 23 104 Adrian Gonzalez 1B .276 27 91
Brad Hawpe RF .286 27 105 Khalil Greene SS .253 24 88
Ryan Spilborghs LF .294 11 49 Mike Cameron CF .243 21 78
Yorvit Torrealba C .258 7 44 Josh Bard C .275 4 45
Cory Sullivan CF .307 2 14 Marcus Giles 2B .231 4 39
Jeff Francis LHP .169 0 3 Greg Maddux RHP .136 0 0
(16-8, 4.25) (13-10, 3.95)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO
WARMUPS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS (16-8, 4.25)
SDG - GREG MADDUX (13-10, 3.95)

UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN RUNGE
1B - MIKE WINTERS
2B - BRUCE FROEMMING
3B - HUNTER WENDELSTEDT

WEATHER: 67 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 7 mph, left to right</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO
STARTING BATS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS AND YORVIT TORREALBA
SDG - GREG MADDUX AND JOSH BARD

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: K MATSUI (.292, 4 HR, 34 RBI)
T TULOWITZK (.292, 22 HR, 90 RBI)
T HELTON (.316, 15 HR, 83 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 0 0
SAN DIEGO 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
SDG - GREG MADDUX

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: B GILES (.273, 11 HR, 44 RBI)
M BRADLEY (.307, 10 HR, 29 RBI)
K KOUZMANOFF (.270, 17 HR, 68 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS SAN DIEGO (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .292
T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .292
T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316
G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .293
B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
R Spilborghs lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
Y Torrealba c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
C Sullivan cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .169

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Atkins 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (32, 2nd base off G Maddux/J Bard).


SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
M Bradley lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
K Kouzmanoff 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
A Gonzalez 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
K Greene ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Cameron cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
J Bard c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Giles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
G Maddux p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .136

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 0 -- 0
SAN DIEGO - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.25

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
G Maddux 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.92

Pitches-strikes: G Maddux 19-10. Ground balls-fly balls: G Maddux 1-1.
Batters faced: G Maddux 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Hunter
Wendelstedt.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO
CONFIRMED STARTERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
SDG - GREG MADDUX</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 0 0
SAN DIEGO 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
SDG - GREG MADDUX

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: B HAWPE (.286, 27 HR, 105 RBI)
R SPILBORGHS (.294, 11 HR, 49 RBI)
Y TORREALBA (.258, 7 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS SAN DIEGO (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .292
T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .292
T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316
G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .293
B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
R Spilborghs lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
Y Torrealba c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
C Sullivan cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .169

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Atkins 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (32, 2nd base off G Maddux/J Bard).


SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
M Bradley lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
K Kouzmanoff 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272
A Gonzalez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275
K Greene ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Cameron cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
J Bard c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Giles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
G Maddux p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .136

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - K Kouzmanoff (27, J Francis). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - A Gonzalez 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 0 -- 0
SAN DIEGO - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.23

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
G Maddux 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.92

Pitches-strikes: J Francis 14-9; G Maddux 19-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Francis 3-0; G Maddux 1-1. Batters faced: J Francis 4; G Maddux 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Hunter
Wendelstedt.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 0 0 0
SAN DIEGO 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
SDG - GREG MADDUX

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: K GREENE (.253, 24 HR, 88 RBI)
M CAMERON (.243, 21 HR, 78 RBI)
J BARD (.275, 4 HR, 45 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS SAN DIEGO (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .292
T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .292
T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316
G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .293
B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
R Spilborghs lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
Y Torrealba c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
C Sullivan cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .169

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Atkins 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (32, 2nd base off G Maddux/J Bard).


SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
M Bradley lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
K Kouzmanoff 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272
A Gonzalez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275
K Greene ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Cameron cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
J Bard c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Giles 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
G Maddux p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .136

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - K Kouzmanoff (27, J Francis). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - A Gonzalez 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 00 -- 0
SAN DIEGO - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.23

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
G Maddux 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.90

Pitches-strikes: J Francis 14-9; G Maddux 31-16. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Francis 3-0; G Maddux 4-1. Batters faced: J Francis 4; G Maddux 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Hunter
Wendelstedt.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 0 0 0
SAN DIEGO 0 0 0 2 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
SDG - GREG MADDUX

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: C SULLIVAN (.307, 2 HR, 14 RBI)
J FRANCIS (.169, 0 HR, 3 RBI)
K MATSUI (.292, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS SAN DIEGO (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .292
T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .292
T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316
G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .293
B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
R Spilborghs lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
Y Torrealba c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
C Sullivan cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .169

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 1 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Atkins 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (32, 2nd base off G Maddux/J Bard).


SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
M Bradley lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
K Kouzmanoff 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272
A Gonzalez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275
K Greene ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Cameron cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242
J Bard c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
M Giles 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .231
G Maddux p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .133

Totals 8 0 2 0 1 1 3

BATTING: 2B - K Kouzmanoff (27, J Francis). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - A Gonzalez 1, G Maddux 1. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 00 -- 0
SAN DIEGO - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 4.20

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
G Maddux 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.90

Pitches-strikes: J Francis 35-22; G Maddux 31-16. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Francis 5-0; G Maddux 4-1. Batters faced: J Francis 9; G Maddux 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Hunter
Wendelstedt.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY TODD HELTON SCORED KAZ MATSUI.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, T HELTON ON SECOND, T TULOWITZKI ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 1
SAN DIEGO 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: G ATKINS (.293, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 1 1 3 0
SAN DIEGO 0 0 0 2 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
SDG - GREG MADDUX

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: B GILES (.272, 0-FOR-1)
M BRADLEY (.305, 0-FOR-1)
K KOUZMANOFF (.272, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">COLORADO (1) VS SAN DIEGO (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Matsui 2b 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 .291
T Tulowitzki ss 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .293
T Helton 1b 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .317
G Atkins 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .292
B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
R Spilborghs lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
Y Torrealba c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
C Sullivan cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
J Francis p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .183

Totals 12 1 3 1 1 1 6

BATTING: 2B - T Helton (40, G Maddux). RBI - T Helton (84). 2-out RBI - T
Helton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Atkins 3. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - K Matsui (32, 2nd base off G Maddux/J Bard).


SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
M Bradley lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
K Kouzmanoff 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272
A Gonzalez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275
K Greene ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Cameron cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242
J Bard c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
M Giles 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .231
G Maddux p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .133

Totals 8 0 2 0 1 1 3

BATTING: 2B - K Kouzmanoff (27, J Francis). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - A Gonzalez 1, G Maddux 1. Team LOB - 3.


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 001 -- 1
SAN DIEGO - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 4.20

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
G Maddux 3 3 1 1 1 1 0 3.93

Pitches-strikes: J Francis 35-22; G Maddux 55-31. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Francis 5-0; G Maddux 6-2. Batters faced: J Francis 9; G Maddux 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Hunter
Wendelstedt.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, left to right.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MILTON BRADLEY (11) TO CENTER WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 3RD OFF JEFF FRANCIS.
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 1, SAN DIEGO 1

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: K KOUZMANOFF (.272, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 1 1 3 0
SAN DIEGO 0 0 1 1 4 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
SDG - GREG MADDUX

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: B HAWPE (.285, 0-FOR-1)
R SPILBORGHS (.293, 0-FOR-1)
Y TORREALBA (.257, 0-FOR-1)</div>