Rockies, Padres square off again at Coors Field

How bad has the season been for the Rockies thus far? Christian Friedrich's four wins leads the team despite the rookie left-hander having made just 10 starts this season.

The problem coming into Saturday against the Padres is that he will aim to stop a personal four-game slide. Friedrich has been hurt by the long ball, allowing seven of them during the skid. He gave up nine hits and four runs in a 12-5 loss to the Nationals on Tuesday.

Friedrich won his only start against the Padres, giving up one earned run over six innings on May 9.

Edinson Volquez, who has picked up victories in two of his last three starts, gets the ball for the Padres. The righty, who turns 29 on Tuesday, tossed 6 2/3 shutout frames in a 2-0 win against Seattle on Sunday. He's 2-2 with a 4.44 ERA in five games against the Rockies.

Last night, Jeff Francis earned his first win as a Rockie in nearly two years, tossing six shutout innings in a 10-2 Colorado triumph. Francis (1-1) scattered three hits while walking one in a six-inning, 82-pitch outing.

"When you get someone that goes out and pitches in the manner that Jeff Francis did, you're going to put yourself in a favorable position on most nights," Colorado manager Jim Tracy said.

Carlos Gonzalez registered a triple, two RBI and a pair of runs scored while Michael Cuddyer and Wilin Rosario both smacked two-run shots and scored twice for Colorado, which has won back-to-back games for the first time since June 3-4.

Jason Marquis (1-4) surrendered six runs -- five earned -- on six hits and a walk in six innings for the Padres, who have lost seven of their last 11 contests.

"He pitched better than his line indicated," Padres manager Bud Black said. "They bunched some hits there when they got their runs...The extra-base hits was sort of his undoing."

Colorado leads the all-time series with the Padres, 162-148. The Rockies have won four of the seven encounters this season.