(SportsNetwork.com) - The San Diego Padres hope to pick up a fourth consecutive victory on Monday night when they begin a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Padres lost three of four to begin the season, including the opener of a four-game set with San Francisco, but rebounded to win the final three contests of the series with the Giants. Wil Nieves' grand slam helped San Diego finish off the set with a 6-4 win on Sunday.
Will Venable added a solo homer and Alexi Amarista an RBI triple. Tyson Ross earned the win, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks over six innings with eight strikeouts.
"The guys picked me up today," Ross said. "It was a great win for the team."
Andrew Cashner could use some picking up tonight as he tries to rebound from a rough loss in his season debut.
The San Diego right-hander pitched to a 2.55 earned run average and allowed just seven homers over 19 starts last season, but was taken deep three times by the Los Angeles Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez in a loss last Wednesday. All three were solo shots, but Cashner still yielded six runs -- five earned -- over five innings. He struck out six but walked three, one with the bases loaded.
Cashner is 3-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 12 games (8 starts) lifetime versus the Diamondbacks.
Arizona counters with righty Rubby De La Rosa, who won his season and club debut in less-than-impressive fashion on Tuesday.
Facing the Giants, De La Rosa yielded six runs on eight hits, two homers and two walks over 5 1/3 innings. He also struck out five in the 7-6 win.
The 26-year-old has faced the Padres once before and did not get a decision, allowing a hit and four walks while striking out eight over six scoreless innings.
The Diamondbacks had a chance to post a three-game sweep of the Dodgers, but lost Sunday's finale, 7-4.
Josh Collmenter gave up three runs on nine hits over five innings of work for Arizona, which scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Jordan Pacheco notched an RBI single with two outs and A.J. Pollock added a three-run double.
"Those innings are important whether you win or lose," Pollock said. "You never want to just roll over."
Arizona, 3-3 to begin the season, hits the road for the first time this season.
The Diamondbacks have won four of their past five versus the Padres and went 12-7 in this matchup last season.
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