5 reasons a Padres win would simply rock
Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
A Padres win in Colorado on Thursday afternoon would be satisfying on so many levels.
One, it would give San Diego a 3-1 edge in a four-game series at Coors Field, which has been a tough venue for visiting teams throughout its history and doubly tough for the Padres, who are 77-94 in the Rockies' home.
Two, it would give the Padres a fourth straight series win this season, with three of those coming against National League West rivals -- San Francisco, Arizona and Colorado.
Three, a third win over the Rockies in four days would cap a 5-2 road trip and give the Padres momentum going into a nine-game homestand that begins Friday night with the first of three games against the Dodgers at Petco Park. The homestand continues with three games each against Houston and Colorado.
Four, a win would make the Padres 9-5 in their first 14 games against NL West rivals. Seventeen of San Diego's first 20 games -- and 27 of the first 33 -- are against division opponents.
Five, it would give the Padres at least a tie for first in the NL West with Los Angeles going into the weekend series against the Dodgers.
Notes from the scorebook
• With two home runs in Colorado on Wednesday night -- by second baseman Yangervis Solarte and center fielder Wil Myers -- the Padres have had homers in 10 straight games dating back to April 12. It is the longest streak in the Major Leagues this season, the longest by San Diego since the 2006 team also homered in 10 straight games and tied for the longest streak since the 2001 Padres homered in 11 straight games. En route to the franchise's second NL title, the 1998 Padres had streaks of 14 and 13 straight games with a homer -- the longest such streaks in franchise history.
• Wednesday night marked the first time this season that the Padres didn't get a hit from either Matt Kemp or Justin Upton, the club's Nos. 3 and 4 hitters in 15 of its first 16 games.
• Catcher Derek Norris is 9-for-19 in a five-game hitting streak, with five doubles (all in the last three games), four RBIs and six runs. Norris also recorded a catcher's caught stealing Wednesday, giving him seven on the season. That is one shy of his career high set last season with the Oakland A's. His seven caught runners is also tied for the Major League lead, with Toronto's Russell Martin.
Video: SD@COL: Norris catches Ynoa stealing second
• Third baseman Will Middlebrooks extended his hitting streak to nine games Wednesday night, tying his career best. Middlebrooks is 10-for-36 during the streak, with two doubles, a triple and two home runs for seven RBIs and five runs.