Padres at Rockies
The Colorado Rockies attempt to continue their success against the San Diego Padres and complete a three-game sweep when they host their National League West rivals on Sunday for the finale of their series. Colorado has won seven consecutive overall meetings with San Diego and five straight at home after posting a 16-0 triumph on Saturday.
Charlie Blackmon doubled, homered and drove in four runs while Pat Valaika belted a pinch-hit grand slam for the Rockies, who extended their lead over Milwaukee for the second NL wild-card spot to 3 1/2 games. Carlos Gonzalez and Jonathan Lucroy each recorded three of Colorado's 17 hits while combining to score five runs and drive in three others. San Diego managed only three singles on Saturday as it was shut out for the second time in four contests. The Padres enter Sunday with a five-game losing streak during which they have scored a total of four runs.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Jhoulys Chacin (12-10, 4.06 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Gray (8-4, 3.95)
Chacin will be making his second start against the team with which he spent his first six years in the major leagues after suffering a loss on June 3. The 29-year-old Venezuelan, who yielded four runs on six hits and three walks over six innings in the setback, is two wins away from matching the career high he set in 2013 while with the Rockies. Chacin escaped with a no-decision at Arizona on Sept. 9, when he gave up four runs and seven hits in five frames.
Gray looks to win his third consecutive start after posting road triumphs over the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona. The 25-year-old native of Oklahoma allowed a total of three runs over 13 innings in the victories, recording 13 strikeouts while issuing only two walks. Gray improved to 3-2 with a 2.76 ERA in eight career turns against San Diego on July 19 despite yielding four runs and seven hits over six frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rockies have outscored the Padres 22-1 over the first two games of the series and will soon have another chance to tee off as they visit San Diego for a four-game set that begins Thursday.
2. Padres 1B Wil Myers exited Saturday's beatdown in the sixth inning with a contusion after fouling a ball off his right knee.
3. Colorado RHP Chad Bettis will have his turn in the rotation pushed back to Saturday at San Diego in order for him to work on his mechanics.