The last time the San Diego Padres faced off against the division rival Colorado Rockies, the 2024 season exuded a different feeling. With an opportunity to take the series in Colorado, the Friars blew a 9-4 lead in the final game of the series and split the four-game set.

Then, back in San Diego, the Philadelphia Phillies swept the Padres in front of three frustrated Petco Park crowds.

San Diego found itself 14-18. However, the Friars have turned the page and won four straight series.

After taking two out of three from the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego has the opportunity to make it five straight against a surprisingly hot Rockies team, fresh off sweeping the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers.

However, an 0-for-6 night with RISP doomed the Padres en route a frustrating 5-4 loss to open the series.

To begin the three-game set with Colorado, Mike Shildt gave the start to right-hander Randy Vásquez, making his second start in place of Joe Musgrove, who remains on the shelf with right elbow tendonitis.

In his most recent outing against the Chicago Cubs, Vásquez allowed just one earned run in 4.1 frames.

For the Rockies and Bud Black, right-hander Dakota Hudson toed the slab, entering play with a rough 6.35 ERA over 34 innings. When Hudson faced San Diego on April 25, the Padres tagged him for six earned runs in 3.1 frames.

Colorado jumped on the board first in the second inning when Elehuris Montero plated Brenton Doyle on a 70-MPH infield single.

However, the Padres answered back immediately and tied the score 1-1 on Xander Bogaerts‘ 412-foot no-doubt solo shot in the bottom of the inning.

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After a scoreless third frame from both sides, Montero struck again for Colorado and doubled home Brendan Rodgers and Jake Cave.

Then, Charlie Blackmon singled home Montero, and Ezequiel Tovar plated Blackmon to give Colorado a 5-1 lead.

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At the end of his line, Vásquez allowed four earned runs in 3.2 innings.

First out of the bullpen was southpaw Adrián Morejón, who struck out Ryan McMahon to strand Tovar at first.

Overall, Morejón was excellent in relief, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings.

The Padres got back into the game in the bottom of the sixth when Jurickson Profar crushed a 107-MPH two-run shot that scored Manny Machado.

Then, Jackson Merrill brought the Padres within one run in the seventh inning on his third round-tripper of the season.

Frustratingly, the Padres failed to score in the eighth after the Rockies walked the bases loaded and did the same in the ninth. With the bases filled with Padres, Machado grounded into a game-ending 5-4-3 double play to solidify Colorado’s 5-4 victory.

On the night, San Diego left nine on base.