SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Maybe the Colorado Rockies are finally getting

the hang of playing on the road.

Behind Todd Helton's grand slam, the Rockies won their fourth

straight game -- all on the road -- with a 4-2 victory over the San

Diego Padres on Saturday night.

By taking the first two games against San Diego in the

three-game series, Colorado set a franchise record by winning its

fourth consecutive road series. After dropping the first game of a

nine-game road trip, the Rockies have won four straight.

"It's satisfying," Helton said. "The biggest thing we have to

do as a team and as an organization is to develop a winning

attitude. We're getting closer."

The Rockies, who have never had a winning road record in 13

seasons, have had only four overall winning seasons in their

history and none since 2000.

"Hopefully, we can keep this going this year and carry it over

to spring training," Helton said.

Helton, one of the veteran leaders on an inexperienced team, hit

a slicing home run down the left-field line off Brian Lawrence that

proved to be the difference.

"For us to win four consecutive road series, especially with

this group, speaks a little bit about the effort being put forth

and the results," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said.

The Rockies, with the NL's worst road record at 18-43, have won

six of seven overall.

San Diego's lead in the NL West was cut to 5½ games over Arizona

and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres dropped to 63-65, making it

the latest date that a division leader has had a losing record.

Helton's home run was about the only offense Colorado managed

against Lawrence (7-13) and two relievers.

"That's a big hit in this ballpark," Hurdle said. "He's

capable of a lot of things and he's finding his own way to

contribute. We have one big hit tonight. He had it and it's a

four-run swing. He picked us up big time with the bat."

Sun-woo Kim (3-2), making his second start for the Rockies since

being claimed off waivers on Aug. 5, held the Padres to one run and

four hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out seven and

walked one. Kim, who threw 71 pitches, was on a pitch count of 70

pitches.

David Cortes pitched the ninth for his second save in two

chances.

"The first two innings, my slider wasn't working," Kim said.

"I decided to go with my cut fastball and change up more and it

was better."

Lawrence cruised into the fifth, having allowed just two

singles. But he ran into trouble after consecutive singles by Omar

Quintanilla and Danny Ardoin to open the fifth.

Kim followed with a sacrifice bunt before Cory Sullivan was hit

by a pitch to load the bases. After working the count to 3-1,

Helton reached outside and went the opposite way for his 14th

homer.

"It was a fastball because I wasn't going to walk in a run

there," Lawrence said. "I was going to throw him a strike and

make him hit the ball. I thought it was a good pitch. I would have

never guessed the ball was going to go out of the park."

Helton's home run, his third career grand slam, sliced down the

left-field line and just made it into the second deck of the

Western Metal Supply Company building that borders the left-field

foul pole.

"Just like any park, if you hit it hard enough, it's going to

go out," Helton said. "I knew that I hit it good and that it

wasn't slicing too much."

Helton is hitting .381 (8-for-21) with three home runs, three

doubles and eight RBI in five games at Petco Park this season.

Lawrence gave up five hits in seven innings. He struck out three

and walked none while allowing more than one run for the first time

in three starts.

San Diego threatened in the eighth inning when Joe Randa hit a

one-out single and Brian Giles followed with a double down the

left-field line. Scott Dohmann replaced Jose Acevedo and gave up an

RBI single to Ryan Klesko to cut the lead to 4-2.

Dohmann got Mark Loretta to pop out and ended the threat when he

struck out Xavier Nady.

"We've been very cyclical with our hitting," Padres manager

Bruce Bochy said. "That's what has kept us from getting on a roll

and a nice winning streak."

Miguel Olivo put the Padres ahead in the second inning when he

hit a two-out single to drive in Nady, who doubled and went to

third on Kim's throwing error.Game notes
In 15 career games at Petco Park, Helton is hitting . 339

(19-for-56) with five home runs, four doubles and 13 RBI. ... The

Padres have scored two or fewer runs in 13 of Lawrence's 27 starts.

... San Diego committed an error in its fourth straight game,

totaling nine during the stretch. ... The Padres honored longtime

broadcaster Jerry Coleman before the game for his recent induction

into the Baseball Hall of Fame.