SB Nation Denver - Jason Giambi Displays Potent Bat, Rare Defensive Skills In 4-3 Victory Over Giantshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48907/denver-fave.png2010-09-03T23:15:40-06:00http://denver.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14324412010-09-03T23:15:40-06:002010-09-03T23:15:40-06:00Rockies Hand Cory Luebke First Loss In Major League Debut
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<p>San Diego, CA (<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/54898/recap/113618" target="new">Sports Network</a>) – Jason Giambi and Troy Tulowitzki each hit a two-run homer, as the Colorado Rockies dealt San Diego an eighth consecutive defeat, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game series.</p>
<p>Aaron Cook (5-8), who was activated off the disabled list to make the start, got the win after limiting the Padres to two runs on four hits and four walks in 6 1/3 innings.</p>
<p>The Rockies, who snapped a three-game skid, entered the weekend trailing the NL West-leading Padres by 7 1/2 games.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, San Diego’s worst losing streak of the season continued with Friday’s loss, but it did not lose any ground in the division. The Padres still hold a three-game lead over San Francisco because the Giants lost to Los Angeles on Friday.</p>
<p>Cory Luebke (0-1) made his major league debut for San Diego and pitched five innings in taking the loss. He walked two and allowed five hits, two of which were Colorado’s home runs.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/9/3/1668978/rockies-hand-cory-luebke-first-loss-mlb-debutRuss Oates2010-09-03T16:30:40-06:002010-09-03T16:30:40-06:00Rockies, Desperate for Sweep, Face Off Against NL West Leading San Diego
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<p>(Sports Network) - If the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/colorado-rockies">Colorado Rockies</a> are going to return to the postseason, they need to turn it around soon. This weekend would be a good start, as they begin a three-game series against the National League West- leading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/san-diego-padres">San Diego Padres</a> at Petco Park.</p>
<p>Colorado enters the weekend set 7 1/2-games back of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>. However, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> could be catching San Diego at the right moment, as the Padres have dropped a season-high seven in a row.</p>
<p>"Things aren't going our way," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "We will spin out of it."</p>
<p>Colorado, which is 6 1/2 back of Philadelphia in the Wild Card race, has also won eight of its 12 meetings with the Padres in 2010, including wins in four of the six matchups in San Diego. That trend could continue this evening, as the Rockies will be facing a pitcher making his major league debut in left- hander <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/107508/Cory_Luebke">Cory Luebke</a>.</p>
<p>Luebke, the 63rd overall selection of the 2007 draft, has dominated the minors while splitting the season between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Portland, posting a 10-1 record with a 2.68 ERA in 19 outings (17 starts) before his contract was selected by the Padres when rosters were expanded on Wednesday.</p>
<p>"I'm just going to take it a start at a time," Luebke said. "[Black] let me know I was pitching Friday, so I'll get myself ready on Friday and whatever this team needs me to do."</p>
<p>San Diego had its lead over San Francisco trimmed to three games with a disappointing 5-2 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/arizona-diamondbacks">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The usually reliable San Diego bullpen gave up four runs after starter <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/69508/Mat_Latos">Mat Latos</a> gave up a run and four hits in six full frames and matched a career-high with 10 strikeouts. Latos, 22, has now yielded two runs or less in 14 straight outings, a feat last accomplished by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/248/Greg_Maddux">Greg Maddux</a> 16 years ago.</p>
<p>"Our bullpen, I believe, is the best in the National League," Black said. "Let's leave it at that."</p>
<p>Colorado, meanwhile, watched Philadelphia overcome a four-run deficit by crossing the plate nine times in the seventh inning on Thursday. The Rockies made things interesting, scoring four more runs after that, but came up short in a 12-11 loss.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/31379/Carlos_Gonzalez">Carlos Gonzalez</a> continued his hot hitting by belting his 31st home run amid a 3-for-5 night. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/541/Chris_Iannetta">Chris Iannetta</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/33098/Dexter_Fowler">Dexter Fowler</a> slugged second-inning home runs and knocked in three runs apiece for Colorado, which has lost three straight after winning seven of eight.</p>
<p>A combination of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/934/Joe_Beimel">Joe Beimel</a>, Reynolds and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/302/Manny_Delcarmen">Manny Delcarmen</a> (0-1), who was making his Rockies debut, were responsible for the seventh-inning meltdown.</p>
<p>Taking the ball for the Rockies this evening will be <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/540/Aaron_Cook">Aaron Cook</a>, who is expected to be activated from the disabled list prior to tonight's start. Cook has not pitched since spraining his right toe in a loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/san-francisco-giants">Giants</a> back on August 3.</p>
<p>Cook has lost his last three starts, though, surrendering 15 runs in just 9 2/3 innings of those outings. He is 4-8 with a 5.34 ERA on the season.</p>
<p>"If <span>Aaron Cook</span> is really good, then obviously there's the possibility of keeping Cookie in the rotation," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy. "But I wanna see the guy pitch. The worst thing in the world for you is trying to run somebody down in the Wild Card and/or division and getting pitched out of a game in the second or third inning. That's really not an option if that can happen on any type of consistent basis."</p>
<p>Cook has been terrific in his career against the Padres, having gone 13-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 24 games (22 starts). He is also an impressive 6-1 in 10 starts at Petco.</p>
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