National League Preview from The Sports Network
Sunday, September 2nd
(All times Eastern)
San Diego Padres (62-72) at Colorado Rockies (54-77), 3:10 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: San Diego - Casey Kelly (1-0, 0.00)
Colorado - Jeff Francis (5-4, 5.44)
(Sports Network) - Casey Kelly certainly lived up to his billing as the San
Diego Padres' top-ranked prospect in his debut earlier this week.
The young right-hander looks to make it two wins in as many starts on Sunday
afternoon as he takes the hill for the Padres' finale of a three-game series
against the Colorado Rockies.
Kelly is a former first-round pick by Boston and was a key player obtained by
the Padres in a deal that sent first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox on
Dec. 6, 2010. He was ranked as San Diego's top prospect by MLB.com and made
his debut with the Padres on Monday in a start against the Atlanta Braves.
The 22-year-old impressed with six scoreless frames in which he scattered
three hits and two walks, striking out four to lead a 3-0 triumph.
"It was an unbelievable feeling and a dream come true," Kelly said of his
debut.
Manager Bud Black was also left impressed.
"I thought he pitched with the fastball the whole game," Black said. "Fastball
had good sink, he threw it in and out, good spots ... a nice debut."
While San Diego goes with youth, Colorado starts 31-year-old Jeff Francis, who
has picked up a pair of wins over a five-start unbeaten streak.
Francis has allowed just a run over consecutive five-inning outings and beat
the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. He was charged with three hits and a walk
while striking out six in a scoreless outing that keyed a 10-0 win.
"It's a great game. You have to play good baseball against this team, dealing
with this lineup," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "You cannot afford to give
them unnecessary opportunities. Jeff Francis did a great job of not allowing
any of this to happen."
The lefty is 5-4 with a 5.44 ERA in 17 starts this season, but allowed five
runs in five frames the last time he faced the Padres on July 21. He did not
factor into the decision, however, and is 6-13 over his career in this matchup
with a 5.52 ERA.
Colorado evened this series on Saturday with a 9-1 victory that featured the
first grand slam of Dexter Fowler's career. Tyler Colvin added a solo homer
and three RBI as the Rockies avoided a third straight loss.
Jhoulys Chacin didn't waste the run support, allowing a run on five hits and
two walks over seven innings in the win.
"He was unbelievable, that was the best I've seen him," Fowler said of
Chacin's effort. "It was definitely a bright spot for us."
San Diego starter Edinson Volquez was touched for five runs on nine hits over
4 2/3 frames to suffer the loss, just San Diego's second in 12 games.
Will Venable drove in the lone San Diego run with a solo homer, his ninth
longball of the season.
"This year we're seeing more of a consistent approach at the plate," Black
said regarding Venable. "He's not really tinkering with his swing, and I think
it's paid off over the majority of his at-bats."
San Diego is 8-6 against the Rockies this year and hasn't captured a season
series against them since going 11-7 in 2005.
09/02 10:31:52 ET

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