Padres conclude 11-game homestand Thursday afternoon
The San Diego Padres haven't performed up to expectations, but they haven't had much trouble against the Colorado Rockies.
Another big performance from their offense could help Tyson Ross beat the Rockies for the first time as the Padres conclude an 11-game homestand Thursday.
San Diego (67-73) had a chance to reach .500 on Aug. 23, but it dropped 11 of its next 15 before winning the last two against Colorado (57-82). Jedd Gyorko hit a three-run homer and Matt Kemp added a solo shot in Wednesday's 11-4 victory.
Kemp extended his hitting streak to seven for the Padres, whose 18 hits marked their most since they tied their season high of 20 on May 24. Kemp has hit .356 as San Diego has outscored the Rockies 94-59 while winning 11 of 15 meetings this season.
Ross (10-10, 3.21 ERA) is winless in eight starts against Colorado, though, including 0-1 with a 3.78 ERA in three this season. He's been solid against other clubs lately, going 2-1 with a 2.13 ERA over his last four.
The right-hander gave up one run in six innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday but took a 2-0 loss. Ross' ERA hasn't been this low since after his first start.
"Ross wins the ballgame on a lot of other nights," interim manager Pat Murphy said.
That would've been the case Wednesday, when Gyorko helped lead the offensive onslaught. He has four homers and nine RBIs over his last seven and has hit safely in 11 of 12.
"I think he is starting to realize that type of ballplayer he is," Murphy said. "He's capable of a lot of things. He has taken his game to another level and it is fun to see."
Gyorko appears to have a good chance to stay hot, as he's 13 for 19 with a homer and five doubles off Jorge De La Rosa (9-6, 4.24). Kemp (20 for 46, four homers, six doubles) also has had plenty of success against De La Rosa, who enters this matchup riding a solid stretch.
The left-hander improved to 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA over his last four starts after pitching seven solid innings of Friday's 2-1 win over San Francisco. He didn't walk a batter after issuing 15 over his previous five outings.
"We have a lot of confidence in De La Rosa," teammate Nolan Arenado said. "We know that he has the ability to shut the door down."
De La Rosa has a 3.22 ERA in 12 road starts and a 3.00 mark in nine at San Diego despite losing both there this season. The Rockies as a whole haven't had success at Petco Park recently, dropping 17 of their last 21 visits.
Arenado had two hits Wednesday and is batting .450 with seven homers over his last 10. Carlos Gonzalez went 1 for 4, though, and is batting .125 while playing all 15 matchups against the Padres this season.
Rockies rookie catcher Dustin Garneau hit his first major league homer in his eighth start. He made his third straight in place of Nick Hundley, who will be out at least three more days after an MRI revealed a cervical strain.
