Shields, Padres take aim at sweep of Rockies

(SportsNetwork.com) - The San Diego Padres will turn to James Shields on Sunday afternoon as they try for a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies.

Though it resulted in a second straight no-decision, Shields comes into this start for the Padres off an excellent showing versus Houston on Monday. San Diego lost 9-4, though Shields was charged with just three runs -- one earned -- on six hits and a walk in six innings of working while striking out 12.

"His stuff was good. He pitched well," Padres manager Bud Black said of Shields. "He had a legit curveball."

The 33-year-old righty is 2-0 with a 2.90 earned run average in five starts this year -- all quality -- and did not factor into a 5-4 loss at Colorado on April 22. Shields yielded three runs over six innings and is 2-1 with a 3.96 ERA in four games versus the Rockies.

Kyle Kendrick will move up to pitch today's finale for the Rockies, with Tyler Matzek getting pushed back to Monday's opener with Arizona after leaving his previous start early due to a hamstring cramp.

The right-handed Kendrick has gone 0-3 and allowed 26 runs over his last four starts since beating Milwaukee with seven scoreless innings in his Colorado debut on April 6.

Kendrick's lone no-decision did come versus the Padres on April 22 as he allowed four runs on seven hits, including two homers, over seven innings. He is 4-2 with a 4.25 ERA in eight games (7 starts) versus San Diego.

He failed to build off that lengthy outing on Tuesday in Arizona, hammered for eight runs on 10 hits over just 4 1/3 frames to take a 12-5 loss. Kendrick gave up another two homers and has been taken deep eight times on the season.

"They swung the bats really well," said Kendrick. "Obviously, I wasn't good at all. I just have to keep battling."

The Padres got six innings of work from Brandon Morrow in Saturday's 4-2 win, while Brandon Maurer followed with two perfect innings of relief and Craig Kimbrel struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his seventh save.

Justin Upton hit a go-ahead, two-run single for the Padres, who were swept in three games by Houston prior to this series.

"I thought we played a clean game all the way around," said Black. "I thought Morrow was good. These are the types of games you have to win."

Charlie Blackmon hit a solo homer for the Rockies, who have dropped four in a row.

"Certainly didn't get the timely hit," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.

Colorado starter Jorge De La Rosa suffered his second loss to the Padres this season after giving up three runs on five hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out nine.

The Rockies and Padres split a four-game series in Colorado from April 20-23.