Major League Baseball

Blue Jays-Padres Preview

Published Jun. 2, 2013 3:33 a.m. ET

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The San Diego Padres just won their first series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

They'll go for the sweep Sunday night.

Since losing five of six, San Diego (26-29) has won four of five, including 4-3 victories in the first two games of this series. However, Saturday's victory finished in 2 hours, 21 minutes compared to Friday's 4 hour, 58-minute marathon that ended with Jesus Guzman's single in the 17th inning.

"It's very important (we won this one quicker than Friday)," said shortstop Everth Cabrera, who finished with three singles and two RBIs. "Winning two games in the series - we gotta keep doing it for tomorrow."

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and a post-race concert by The Psychedelic Furs at Petco Park will push back the start of Sunday's game to 7:10 p.m.

The Padres, 6-2 against AL teams since losing their first three interleague games this season, are now 4-4 all-time against Toronto. Edinson Volquez (4-5, 5.20 ERA) will try to give San Diego the edge in that series.

The veteran right-hander had an encouraging outing in Tuesday's 6-1 victory at Seattle, giving up one run in a season-high 7 2-3 innings. Volquez had yielded five runs in each of his previous two starts, both home losses.

"That's as good a hook as he's had all year,'' manager Bud Black said.

That could have been because Volquez, who had been dealing with a blister, was pushed back one day so that Clayton Richard could get a start following a stint on the DL.

Volquez also could have felt more comfortable with catcher Yasmani Grandal making his season debut following a 50-game suspension for a positive testosterone test. Volquez, Grandal and Yonder Alonso arrived from Cincinnati in December 2011 for Mat Latos.

Volquez has an 8.68 ERA in two starts against Toronto, both losses while with the Reds.

While the Padres have won 15 of 21 at home, the Blue Jays (23-33) have dropped three straight and eight of 11 outside Toronto.

"We swung the bats really well (with 11 hits),'' manager John Gibbons said. "But we got beat by a couple of infield hits. That's baseball. That happens sometimes.''

Brandon Morrow was slated to start on Sunday, but he was placed on the 15-day DL on Saturday with a right forearm strain.

In his place will be Ramon Ortiz (1-2, 5.01), who was just sent down Friday. The 40-year-old right-hander has pitched in six games this season, most recently a 7-6, 10-inning loss to Atlanta on Tuesday when he was tagged for two homers for a third consecutive appearance.

Ortiz, 1-2 with a 3.77 ERA in three starts, hasn't faced the Padres since 2011 while with the Chicago Cubs. He's 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts at Petco Park.

Ortiz may not have to face Alonso, who didn't play Saturday after getting hit by a pitch on his right hand Friday, but Cabrera and Will Venable should be in the lineup. Venable is 4 for 5 with a triple and a double off Ortiz, while Cabrera is 2 for 4 with a double.

Blue Jays center fielder Colby Rasmus, 6 for 11 with a homer and three RBIs in this series, is 2 for 10 versus Volquez.

Toronto hasn't dropped four straight since May 1-4.

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