Colorado Rockies (11-10) at San Diego Padres (11-12), 10:10 p.m. (ET)
(SportsNetwork.com) - Ian Kennedy hopes to rebound on the mound and get the San Diego Padres on track Friday night in the first of three consecutive meetings with the Colorado Rockies.
Kennedy lasted only 2 1/3 innings in his season debut on April 9 before going on the disabled list due to a strained hamstring. He made his return to the rotation on Saturday versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, but struggled in an 11-8 loss.
The righty was blasted for eight runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings, getting taken deep three times.
"I fell behind really early in the game," said Kennedy. "I'm more disappointed coming back and not having my best stuff."
Kennedy is 5-4 lifetime versus the Rockies with a 2.86 earned run average in 18 games.
The Padres have lost seven of their past eight games and were swept in three contests by the visiting Houston Astros to begin the week. San Diego lost Wednesday's finale 7-2 despite an excellent outing from starter Andrew Cashner.
Cashner set a club record by striking out the first six batters he faced and fanned 10 in all over his seven innings. He was charged with three runs -- two earned -- in a tough-luck loss despite making his major league record 21st straight home start of allowing two or fewer earned runs.
Matt Kemp knocked in both runs and Wil Myers scored twice for the Padres.
"We've had a tough week. But I think we've seen some offense, we've seen some good pitching, we've seen some pitching that hasn't been so good lately, especially out of the bullpen," Padres manager Bud Black recognized.
Black's offense will take its swings tonight against Colorado's Eddie Butler, who is coming off a 6-4 win over the San Francisco Giants on Friday.
Though his six innings of work were the longest of his four outings this season, Butler did allow a season-high four runs and nine hits. He is 2-1 on the year with a 3.27 ERA.
The 24-year-old righty is set to the face the Padres for the first time and help his club rebound from Wednesday's 9-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Nolan Arenado drove in Colorado's lone run and starter Jordan Lyles was roughed up for seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits and five walks over five innings in the loss.
"We have to go out and pitch better and play better," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "We haven't played very well this series."
Colorado has lost three of its past four.
The Rockies and Padres split a four-game series in Colorado from April 20-23.