Nicasio takes the hill for Rockies in finale with Padres

Juan Nicasio's first start at home this season went nothing like his season debut, when he was returning from a broken neck.

The Colorado starter will try to tame the Coors Field mound this evening and pitch the Rockies to a series victory in the finale of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres.

Nicasio suffered his serious injury after taking a liner off his head back in a home start last Aug. 5. The ailment ended his season and even put his career in doubt for a time, but the right-hander made his season debut on April 8 in Houston and pitched well. He hurled seven innings of one-run ball, though he got a no-decision.

The 25-year-old Nicasio then struggled in his home debut on Friday, getting tagged for six runs on five hits and five walks in only 2 2/3 frames. He got another no-decision while his season earned run average jumped to 6.52.

Nicasio will make his third career start versus the Padres and is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA against them.

He'll follow up a history-making start by Jamie Moyer last night, with the veteran picking up a 5-3 victory over the Padres that at 49 years and 141 days made him the oldest pitcher in major league history to win a game.

Moyer tossed seven innings, allowing two unearned runs on six hits while walking two. He broke Jack Quinn's long-standing record, set on Sept. 13, 1932 for the Dodgers at the age of 49 years and 70 days.

"To have your name mentioned with great players of the past or Hall of Fame players, it's pretty special," remarked Moyer. "It's all about playing the game."

Wilin Rosario knocked in two runs and Dexter Fowler added a two-run blast for the Rockies, who snapped a two-game slide.

Moyer's counterpart, Anthony Bass, wasn't even born when Moyer made his pro debut back on June 16, 1986 for the Cubs. The 24-year-old Bass was touched for three runs on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts over his five innings.

"He's been in the game a long time," said Bass about Moyer. "He's a pitcher out there and he makes his pitches and he gets guys out."

Chris Denorfia finished 4-for-4 with a run scored and Nick Hundley added a solo shot in the ninth as the Padres fell for the fifth time in six games.

Padres left-hander Clayton Richard will make his first start this season against a team other than the Dodgers this evening.

The 28-year-old faced Los Angeles at home on April 8 and picked up a win with seven innings of two-hit ball, charged with a pair of unearned runs. However, Richard got a no-decision on the road by the Dodgers on Friday as they got to him for eight runs over six innings, though half were unearned. Richard also gave up six hits and walked four in his club's 9-8 loss.

Richard is 1-3 with a 5.05 ERA in nine versus the Rockies.

The Padres and Rockies split 18 meetings a season ago, with San Diego winning the last four.