DENVER -- Just when it looked as if Adrian Gonzalez was starting to slow down at the plate, the Padres' first baseman has gotten hot all over again.

Scorching hot, even.

On Tuesday, Gonzalez hit his fifth home run in the last six days, a two-run shot in the first inning, in the Padres' 10-3 loss to the Rockies.

In the month of September, Gonzalez, an All-Star for the first time this season, has hit six home runs and driven in 17 runs in 16 games.

Gonzalez hit .253 in July and .278 in August but has gotten hot at the plate this month.

Gonzalez has already reached career-highs in home runs (34) and RBIs (111) with still 10 games remaining in the regular season.

Gonzalez apparently likes cozy Coors Field, as he's hit three home runs there this season in eight games to go with 11 RBIs.

Pitching matchup
SD: RHP Josh Geer (2-0, 3.18 ERA)
Geer might not be as highly touted as fellow rookie pitcher Wade LeBlanc, though the right-hander is unbeaten after three starts and has a 3.18 ERA after limiting the Giants to two runs on nine hits in seven innings in his last start, Thursday at PETCO Park. Geer allowed more hits than he would have liked but worked fast and didn't walk a batter, finishing with two strikeouts. He recorded 16 fly-ball outs, including a few that center fielder Will Venable ran down near the fence in deep center field.

COL: RHP Livan Hernandez (11-11, 6.21)
Hernandez was demoted from the starting rotation after giving up four runs in 4 1/3 innings last week against the Braves. However, he will make a spot start because lefty Jeff Francis has been shut down for the season. Francis missed all of July with shoulder inflammation, and he felt pain in the shoulder after his last two outings. Hernandez is 1-3 with a 9.85 ERA in six games with the Rockies.

Tidbits
Shortstop Luis Rodriguez left Tuesday's game after apparently suffering a right triceps strain when he attempted to throw out Ryan Spillborghs at first base on a single. He's listed as day-to-day. ... Rodriguez was replaced by Sean Kazmar, who made a nice diving play in the third inning and also singled. Rodriguez, pitcher Cha Seung Baek and catcher Josh Bard have suffered the same injury in the past three days. ... Major League Baseball will announce its 2009 schedule Wednesday. The Padres tenatively will open the season at home against the Dodgers on April 6. ... Entering Tuesday's game, Colorado native Kevin Kouzmanoff was hitting .452 in seven games at Coors Field this season.

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Up next
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Padres (Jake Peavy, 9-11, 2.77) at Nationals (Collin Balester, 3-6, 4.54), 4:35 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Padres (Chris Young, 5-6, 4.43) at Nationals (TBD), 4:10 p.m. PT