NewsPadres relying on Young to step up
San Diego (10-8) at Colorado (6-11), 5:40 p.m. PT
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
04/26/09 9:35 PM ET
SAN DIEGO -- With Jake Peavy struggling, the Padres will turn to Chris Young on Monday when they open a three-game series in Colorado to try and get back to the way this team was playing a week ago.The Padres, who dropped two-of-three games at PETCO Park over the weekend to the Pirates, have lost five of their past six games.
After Peavy allowed five runs in five innings during an 8-3 loss to the Pirates on Sunday, which dropped the 2007 Cy Young Award winner to 2-3 this season with a 5.74 ERA, the team will turn to Young who, sans one bad start, has been the most consistent pitcher in the rotation.
Young pitched a two-hitter over seven innings but he was left with a no-decision as the Giants rallied for a 1-0 victory in 10 innings on April 22.
"I felt good, but I walked too many guys and created a little trouble for myself," Young said after his start against the Giants. "I had decent command with the fastball. I didn't use the slider early, but it got better as I went along. I'm trying to make good pitches and that's the bottom line."
Young walked four and struck out three in his third start in San Francisco, where he has never won and had given up 10 runs in his last 10 2/3 innings.
Other than allowing seven runs in 3 2/3 innings in a game in Philadelphia, Young has allowed two, zero and zero runs in his other starts.
Young retired 10 of the first 12 hitters he faced and was able to pitch himself out of a couple of jams which was something Peavy struggled with Sunday, allowing a two-out, two-run single to Robinzon Diaz in the fourth inning that tied the score after San Diego had taken a 2-0 lead.
Pitching matchupSD: RHP Chris Young (2-0, 3.42 ERA)
Young pitched a two-hitter over seven innings in his last start against the Giants, putting behind him a terrible start in his last outing, but he was shackled with a no-decision as the Giants rallied to win it, 1-0, in the bottom of the 10th inning. COL: RHP Jason Hammel (0-0, 2.70 ERA)
Many Rockies scouts believe Hammel could be an effective starter. After three bullpen appearances, the last two of which have been scoreless outings of two innings in length, Hammel will have a chance to prove them right. Left-hander Franklin Morales suffered a strained muscle in the shoulder on Tuesday, leaving the Rockies with a hole in the rotation. Hammel pitched starter-type innings for the Rays in Spring Training and should be prepared. Tidbits
Shortstop Luis Rodriguez, who had an allergic reaction Saturday to something he ate and was forced to stay a night at a local hospital, returned to the clubhouse during the game on Sunday but he wasn't available to play. He'll likely be back in the starting lineup Monday in Colorado. ... Cliff Floyd, who has had trouble with fluid on his right knee, is taking new medicine to alleviate the problem. Manager Bud Black doesn't expect anything to change in the next three or four days with him. ... Cha Seung Baek will make an injury rehab start on Tuesday for Class A Lake Elsinore. ... Walter Silva, who like Baek is on the disabled list with a strained right forearm, will throw a bullpen session on Monday and will likely make one or two more before heading out on his own rehab stint. ... Reliever Duaner Sanchez, who is battling forearm soreness, was available to pitch Sunday if needed. ... Drew Macias, who was recalled from Triple-A Portland on Sunday when pitcher Shawn Hill went on the disabled list, had a pinch-hit double on Sunday but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple with he stumbled coming around second base. Tickets
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• Tuesday: Padres (Chad Gaudin, 0-0, 0.00) at Rockies (Jorge De La Rosa, 0-2, 3.78), 5:40 p.m. PT
• Wednesday: Padres (Kevin Correia, 0-1, 4.50) at Rockies (Aaron Cook, 0-1, 8.35), 12:10 p.m. PT
• Thursday: Padres (Shawn Hill, 1-1, 5.25) at Dodgers (James McDonald, 1-1, 7.11), 7:10 p.m. PT
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
