Behind an exceptional performance from staff ace Aaron Cook, the Colorado Rockies were able to end their lengthy losing streak their last time out.
Unfortunately for the Rockies, though, Cook can't pitch every day, so it could be tough for them to win two in a row as they conclude their three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.Colorado (33-51) scored all of its runs in the fifth inning Tuesday when it defeated the Padres 4-0 to snap an eight-game losing streak.
Cook was brilliant, throwing just 79 pitches in a five-hitter for his first career shutout. With the victory, the Rockies improved to 12-6 in Cook's starts in 2008 - accounting for 36.4 percent of their wins on the year.
Colorado has had very little success with Wednesday's scheduled starter Ubaldo Jimenez (2-8, 4.71 ERA) on the mound this season, however, winning just four of his 17 starts.
On Friday, Jimenez allowed four runs, nine hits and threw 104 pitches in four innings of a 7-1 loss at Detroit. The right-hander was coming off one of the best starts of his career, as he gave up one run and two hits in eight innings of a 7-1 home win over the New York Mets on June 21 - his first victory since April 8.
Jimenez has lost both of his starts against the Padres this season, allowing nine runs - five earned - in 11 1-3 innings in those outings. He is 1-2 with a 2.96 ERA in four career starts versus San Diego.
One night after their biggest offensive output of the season, the Padres (33-52) reverted to their normal stumbling selves Tuesday.
San Diego, which has scored the second-fewest runs in the majors at 317, managed only five hits Tuesday after pounding out a season-high 22 in Monday's 15-8 victory. The Padres ended an eight-game losing streak Monday, but Tuesday's loss was their 13th in 15 games.
Randy Wolf (5-7, 4.13) has shared in San Diego's latest struggles, and he looks to avoid losing four straight starts for the first time in seven years as he takes the ball.
Wolf has been very streaky lately, and unfortunately for the Padres, he's in the midst of another slump.
After going 0-4 with a 7.52 ERA in five starts from April 25-May 17, Wolf turned things around and went 3-0 with a 1.91 ERA over his next five outings. That success is long gone, however, as the left-hander has posted a 6.08 ERA in losing his last three starts. The 10-year veteran has not lost four consecutive starts since dropping a career-worst five in a row June 2-27, 2001.
On Friday, Wolf had trouble locating the strike zone, as he allowed three runs, eight hits, five walks while throwing 97 pitches in a season-low 3 1-3 innings in a 5-2 loss to Seattle.
"My stuff was fine, but I just didn't have a clue where it was going," Wolf said. "There is no way to candy-coat it."
In his only start against the Rockies this season on April 15, Wolf gave up one hit and struck out nine in seven innings of a 6-0 win. Since 2003, he has won his last three decisions versus Colorado, posting a 2.25 ERA in four starts.
