Giambi, Tulowitzki homer to ruin Luebke’s debut as Rockies beat Padres 4-3

Giambi, Tulo homer to ruin Luebke’s debut

SAN DIEGO — Jason Giambi and Troy Tulowitzki each hit a two-run home run to ruin left-hander Cory Luebke’s big league debut and hand the reeling NL West-leading San Diego Padres their season-high eighth straight loss, 4-3 on Friday night.

San Diego kept its three-game lead over the San Francisco Giants, who lost 4-2 at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Padres have been outscored 45-19 during their losing streak, which is their longest since they lost eight straight in June 2008. The Padres lost 99 games that season.

This was the opener of a 10-game homestand against division rivals. The Padres will play two more against the Rockies, three against the Dodgers and four against the Giants.

While prized prospect Luebke (0-1) struggled through five innings, Aaron Cook (5-8) returned from a monthlong stay on the disabled list and held the Padres to two runs on four hits in 6 1-3 innings. Cook, who had been sidelined by a sprained right big toe, got 15 of his 19 outs via ground balls. Although he went 0-3 with a 13.97 ERA in his previous three starts, he improved to 7-1 with a 2.21 ERA in 11 starts at Petco Park.

Huston Street pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 18 chances.

The Rockies, trying to climb back into the wild-card race, beat the Padres for the ninth time in 13 games this year. After Tulowitzki’s third-inning homer, Luebke and three relievers retired 19 straight Rockies batters until Ernesto Frieri walked Clint Barmes with one out in the ninth.

Nick Hundley had a pinch-hit, two-run homer with one out in the seventh off reliever Samuel Deduno to pull the Padres to 4-3. San Diego had runners on first and second with two outs before Ryan Ludwick struck out.

Luebke got out of the first despite a leadoff walk and his throwing error, but he wasn’t as lucky in the second. Melvin Mora hit a leadoff triple to the left-center gap and Giambi drove Luebke’s next pitch into the sand play area beyond the fence in right-center for a 2-0 lead. It was Giambi’s fourth. Luebke hit Ryan Spilborghs with a pitch and walked Dexter Fowler with two outs, but Spilborghs was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Chris Denorfia on Jonathan Herrera’s single to end the inning.

Carlos Gonzalez singled leading off the third and Tulowitzki hit Luebke’s next pitch over the fence in straightaway center, his 13th, for a 4-0 lead.

Luebke, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Portland on Wednesday, retired his last nine batters. He allowed four runs and five hits, struck out three and walked two.

Cook walked the bases loaded with one out in the sixth but the Padres scored only one run, thanks to some great defense. Giambi, the first baseman, robbed Chase Headley of what could have been a two-run single when he dove to his right for the ball, then ran a few steps and dove headfirst to tag the bag with his glove for the second out as David Eckstein scored. Will Venable then popped up to end the inning. Earlier in the inning, Mora, the third baseman, made a nice play on Miguel Tejada’s high chopper.

Cook walked four and struck out three. Adrian Gonzalez had three hits for San Diego.

Notes: Hall of Famer Andre Dawson was announced to the crowd prior to the game, accompanied by fellow Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, a member of the Padres’ board of directors. … Dawson threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Padres manager Bud Black. Dawson was 5 for 15 lifetime with two home runs against Black. … Padres RHP Chris Young will make another rehab start on Sunday or Monday, for either Triple-A Portland or Class A Lake Elsinore. He’s been on the disabled list since April 12 with a strained right shoulder. … Rockies LHP Jeff Francis is scheduled to make a rehab appearance with Triple-A Colorado Springs on Sunday. He’s on the DL with left shoulder tightness. He’ll throw three innings with a limit of 60 pitches. … The game drew just 21,877. … Carlos Gonzalez’s club-record streak of 10 straight games with an extra-base hit came to an end.