Padres go to the Bay Area In Search of Win

San Diego (85-70) at San Francisco (69-87), 7:15 pm, 4SD/1090/105.7

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- The San Diego Padres spent the weekend getting swept by the Colorado Rockies. They will try to get up off the mat when they travel to San Francisco for the opener of a three game series against the Giants on Monday. The Padres remain in the National league wild card lead, holding just a one-half game edge over the Philadelphia Phillies (85-71) and a 1 1/2 game advantage over the Rockies (84-72).

But San Diego has lost three straight while Colorado seemingly cannot lose, running its winning streak to eight games with a 7-3 victory on Sunday. The Phillies are also playing well, winning three of four over the Washington Nationals over the weekend to keep the pressure on the Padres and stay in front of the red-hot Rockies.

The Padres will limp into San Francisco after center fielder Mike Cameron was forced out of Sunday's contest with a hand injury. Left fielder Milton Bradley will stay behind in San Diego to have an MRI on his knee after manager Bud Black wrestled him to the ground to stop a confrontation between the temperamental outfielder and an umpire.

San Diego will send Chris Young (9-7, 2.83 ERA) to the mound looking for his first win since July 17. The 6-10 righthander is 0-4 with a 5.61 ERA since returning from an injury on August 9. He settled for a no decision on September 14 against the Giants, surrendering three runs and six hits in seven innings.

San Francisco will counter with Barry Zito (9-13, 4.56). The veteran lefthander had a six-start stretch of strong outings ended last Wednesday against Arizona when he lasted just four innings, surrendering five runs and nine hits, to suffer a loss.