Gonzalez exits, Shields struggles as Padres beat Rockies

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) Colorado right fielder Carlos Gonzalez left with pain in his surgically-repaired left knee, and new San Diego ace James Shields struggled in the Padres' 7-5 victory over the Rockies on Friday night.

Gonzalez exited after striking out in the top of the fourth. The two-time All-Star said he felt ''fatigue'' in the knee during the day, and it got worse when he had to stop quickly and throw home an inning earlier.

''When I hit the brakes on that fly ball and threw the ball to the plate, that's when you put a lot of pressure on your knees,'' Gonzalez said. ''But nothing major.''

The tweak presents concerns as Gonzalez has played in only 180 of a possible 324 games the past two seasons. He had season-ending surgery in August to repair a patella tendon.

''I don't think it's right at the site where he had surgery,'' manager Walt Weiss said. ''I'm not concerned. We're being overly cautious.''

Shields allowed five runs - three earned - and six hits before leaving with one out in the fourth. He threw 95 pitches and gave up two doubles to Matt Kemp.

''Not a very good game, overall,'' Shields said.

Kyle Kendrick, set to start opening day for the Rockies, allowed four runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings.

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STARTING TIME

Rockies: Kendrick, signed as a free-agent from Philadelphia, threw 81 pitches in his last major tuneup before his April 6 start in Milwaukee. One of the runs was unearned.

''We feel that's what Kyle is going to do for us,'' Weiss said. ''He's going to pitch well enough to put us in position to win games, especially with our offense.''

Padres: Shields had an eventful first inning. His six-inning hitless streak was snapped on Charlie Blackmon's leadoff single. He went to second on Shields' wild pickoff throw and moved to third on his wild pitch. Shields then had to jump to get out of the way of Gonzalez's broken bat on a grounder that scored Blackmon.

''I still have some work to do, but we'll clean it up before the season starts,'' Shields said. ''I threw a lot of pitches in each inning.''

GONZALEZ SCARE

Gonzalez said he was told to do nothing more than ice the knee.

''You feel great in the offseason, but when you start putting a lot of pressure on your knees and legs, of course you're going to feel a little pain,'' Gonzalez said. ''I don't think it's anything major. Just a little fatigue.''

Weiss said he received a positive medical report.

''I don't anticipate him missing much time, if any at all,'' he said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (groin) remains limited to playing catch. ... 1B Justin Morneau, making up at-bats missed when he was sidelined earlier in camp with elbow tendinitis, played in minor league games for a second straight day.

Padres: Manager Bud Black has not announced when RHP Brandon Morrow (blister) will return. The rotation candidate was scratched from his start Thursday.

HEATING UP

After going 0 for 3 Sunday, new Padres C Derek Norris was hitting .069 (2 for 29). But he's had a good week. Norris lined a single off Kendrick in the second and went 1 for 2. Norris, acquired from Oakland in an offseason trade, is 6 for 9 in his past four games. It was his third straight day behind the plate. ... He's not as hot as Yonder Alonso. The first baseman went 2 for 2 and has hits in five straight at-bats as he perhaps settles into the No. 2 spot in the lineup.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Jon Gray was moved up a day to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. That means Gray, who has not pitched above Double-A, is in line start the second regular season game at Milwaukee on April 7. Weiss has yet to announce his rotation after Kendrick.

Padres: RHP Tyson Ross starts Saturday against Texas. Hard-throwing right-hander Jandel Gustave, claimed off waivers Thursday from Kansas City, will make his San Diego debut.