By ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Sports Writer

DENVER(AP) -- The Colorado Rockies insist they're not feeling the
squeeze as the NL wild-card race tightens around them.

"We control our destiny still," shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said
after the Rockies' 5-4 loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday
night trimmed their lead to 3 1/2 games over idle Atlanta. "I
think we're in a good spot."

San Francisco had a chance to pull within three games of
Colorado but lost 3-2 to the Chicago Cubs on former Rockies
infielder-outfielder Jeff Baker's two-run homer in the ninth.
The Giants remain four games back.

"Obviously, it would have been good to win tonight to put some
more pressure on them," Tulowitzki said. "But we control it. If
we win some games, we're going to win it."

Next up for the Rockies are the St. Louis Cardinals, a possible
first-round playoff opponent. The Cardinals begin a weekend
series at Coors Field on Friday night that features the return
of slugger Matt Holliday for the first time since his trade to
Oakland last winter.

Two of the players the Rockies got in return - closer Huston
Street and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez - have played major roles
in the Rockies' playoff push. Holliday was dealt to the
Cardinals this summer and helped them take command of the NL
Central.

The Cardinals are bringing their cases of champagne in hopes of
clinching a playoff spot this weekend. The Rockies insist
they'll have their own celebration soon.

The Padres, however, played as though they were the ones in a
playoff race, winning two of three in Colorado.

"It's big for this young club," infielder David Eckstein said.
"We are a club that wants to shoot for those clubs and be there
next year."

Nick Hundley homered to start the comeback from a 3-0 deficit
courtesy of Tulowitzki's 30th homer on Thursday night and then
drove in the tiebreaking run with an eighth-inning single off
Rafael Betancourt.

Joe Beimel (1-6) took the loss for Colorado, allowing one run
while getting just two outs, and Adam Russell (3-1) retired the
only batter he faced to pick up the win. Rookie right-hander
Luke Gregerson got five outs for his first career save in six
chances.

Tulowitzki gave the Rockies an early 3-0 lead with a three-run
homer off Clayton Richard in the first inning, but Colorado's
bats went silent after that.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy, who is 68-39 since taking over in
May, said he had no regrets over letting starting pitcher Jason
Hammel hit for himself with two outs in the sixth and runners at
second and third with Colorado clinging to a 3-1 lead.

Nor did Tracy rue his decision to pull Hammel after he faced
just two batters the next inning even though he had thrown just
87 pitches. Tracy said it made the most sense with the hitters
who were coming up and the relievers he had at the ready.

Struggling left-hander Franklin Morales, however, threw 11 balls
and just four strikes, giving up a bloop single and walking to
batters, including one with the bases loaded to send home a run
and make it 3-2.

Matt Daley came in and surrendered a sacrifice fly to David
Eckstein that tied it before Beimel got the final out.

In the eighth, Hundley broke the tie with an RBI single off
Betancourt, stole second base - TV replays show he should have
been called out - and scored on Tony Gwynn's single to make it
5-3.

The Rockies got a run back in the bottom half when Ian Stewart
hit his 25th homer, off Ryan Webb with one out. Clint Barmes
followed with a single and the Padres brought in Gregerson, who
struck out pinch-hitters Jason Giambi and Carlos Gonzalez.

Gregerson gave up a one-out single to Dexter Fowler in the ninth
but got Todd Helton on a flyout to left and Tulowitzki to pop
out to first base to end it.

Hammel, who allowed just two runs on six hits over 6 1-3
innings, was seeking to become the fifth Rockies starter to post
double-digit wins. His only mistake was a pitch that Hundley hit
for his eight homer in the fifth, making it 3-1.

The Rockies have lost seven of 11 but Tracy said he's not
concerned about his team's trajectory.

"The mathematics are totally in our favor," he said. "If we can
win a few baseball games, we're going to make it."

NOTES: Richard allowed three runs, two of them earned, on seven
hits in six innings. ...Tulowitzki is trying to become the first
SS in major league history to hit 25 or more homers and field
.990.