Tyson Ross kept the Rockies to just two runs in last night's game, which amounts to a pretty good outing at the run-friendly Coors Field. Unfortunately those two runs were just enough to beat our Padres, who weren't able to capitalize on opportunities and managed to score only one run (a Rene Rivera solo shot) all night. With the series now even at a game apiece, San Diego looks to Eric Stults to help them secure victory and a happy flight to Los Angeles this afternoon.
Stultsy hasn't had the best season so far, pitching to the tune of a 4.96 ERA and a 3-11 record, just two losses short of the career high he set last season. The veteran lefty hasn't won consecutive starts all season, but he'll try to accomplish that feat today against the division rival Rockies, for whom he pitched in part of 2011, appearing in six games (a combined 12 innings) before they designated him for assignment. Stults is coming off one of his best starts of the season, a seven-inning four-hit shutout against another division rival, the Giants. In his nine starts prior to that, however, he accrued an 0-8 record with a 5.63 ERA. One of those outings, however, was a no-decision at Coors Field on May 16th. He gave up two runs (only one earned) in 6 2/3 innings of work but, like Ross last night, fell victim to a lack of run support. Tonight he'll try to repeat that success and improve on a career 1-1 with a 4.88 ERA at Coors Field.
Getting the ball for the Rockies will be Jair Jurrjens, who made his season debut in L.A. last Friday. That outing didn't go so smoothly as he was lifted after just 4 2/3 innings, having given up eight runs on 12 hits, and then had to be taken to a nearby hospital with breathing problems. Hopefully the Colorado will be more forgiving this afternoon as he tries to bounce back against our Padres. Jurrjens has won three straight starts against San Diego, posting a 1.64 ERA in that stretch. However, he hasn't faced them since 2011 as a member of the Braves.
Tune in for day baseball and see if our Padres can take the series this afternoon. Game time is set for 12:10 PT.