PHOENIX -- Matt Holliday can brace for being public enemy No. 1 when the Rockies begin a three-game series against the Padres on Tuesday night at PETCO Park. Or he can revel in the booing that will ring in his ears.

Instead, Holliday is going to choose a third option, one he goes to whenever there is a potential distraction, good or bad.

He's simply going to ignore it.

On Oct. 1, Holliday ended what was arguably one of the best games in history by sliding in for the winning run in the 13th inning of the Rockies' 9-8 victory over the Padres in a tiebreaker game at Coors Field which determined the National League Wild Card. To this day, of course, many Padres fans don't believe Holliday ever actually touched the plate. A collision into the shin pad of Padres catcher Michael Barrett left him dazed. Umpire Tim McClelland made the ruling.

Holliday, who handled the aftermath with good-natured humor, has no interest in continuing the debate over the play that sent the Rockies to the playoffs. They made the World Series. The Padres, who took an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the 13th, went home.

"I hadn't even thought about it, one thought," Holliday said. "We've got bigger fish to fry than thinking about last year."

Part of the issue is the Rockies have started this year slowly. For Holliday, who works to whittle anything but the next game from his mind, no good can come from continuing to discuss that game -- even one that Rockies fans will never tire of reliving, and Rockies players will recall fondly when their careers are complete.

"We have confidence that we have a good team," Holliday said. "We have to start getting big hits and making big pitches, do the things that allowed us to win a bunch of games last year. Last year is over, but we've gotta start doing the things we did last year to help us win games.

"It's nobody's fault, nobody's fault. It's nobody's burden. But we all have to start performing."

A few Rockies, however, didn't mind looking back to that happy night when they spoiled the Padres' playoff dreams. Officially a regular-season game, it was the Rockies' 14th victory in 15 contests. They also won their first seven playoff games.

"It was definitely amazing -- something that 20 years from now, I'm still going to remember that game," catcher Yorvit Torrealba said. "It was amazing. It was crazy.

"I'm sure for them it was crazy. But it lifted us to the point where we knew we could beat anybody."

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who is expected to rejoin the starting lineup after sitting out Sunday's victory over the Diamondbacks, said, "It was an unreal game that I'll always remember, and I think it was cool for baseball fans to watch that game."

First baseman Todd Helton said he's wondering what the reception will be.

"I'm not sure what it's going to be like," Helton said. "It's going to be interesting. If they do boo, I don't think it'll be too long.

"It'll be an exciting atmosphere. But they've got good fans. They'll be pretty tame."

Pitching matchup
COL: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1, 4.91 ERA)
Jimenez found his rhythm against the Braves on Tuesday night, earning a 4-3 victory with a quality start in which he yielded three runs on six hits and four walks. Two of his walks came in the first inning and two more came to the opposing pitcher. But after yielding a run in the first on two hits and a walk, Jimenez retired 16 of 19, allowing only one hit before losing steam in the sixth and elevating a two-seam fastball that went for a two-run homer. His two-seamer was otherwise effective, especially with his slider in good form.

SD: LHP Randy Wolf (0-0, 2.25 ERA)
Wolf pitched well for the second time in as many starts this season when the left-hander allowed two runs on five hits over six innings in a loss to the Giants on Tuesday. Wolf allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings, but still managed to mostly avoid trouble. Wolf walked one, giving him just three walks in two starts. He mixed a fastball, curveball and changeup well.

Tidbits
Being hated by opposing fans is new to the Rockies, who didn't stir up much of any emotion when they were perennial also-rans. But manager Clint Hurdle was on teams that were booed on sight during his playing career in the 1970s and 80s. "With Kansas City, in New York, you would feel some heat," Hurdle said. "You'd feel some heat when you go into Chicago with the Cardinals. With the Mets that year, we felt heat just about everywhere. But that's just part of it. But you don't overreact, you don't under-react. It's just there. There's a buzz." ... The boos he's certain to get from the crowd aren't Holliday's only problem at PETCO Park. He has a .208 batting average with three home runs and 18 RBIs in 32 games there. It's his lowest average at any park at which he has played more than three games. But he enters with an eight-game hit streak during which he has hit .455. ... The two left-handed power hitters in the lineup, Helton and right fielder Brad Hawpe, are threats at PETCO. Helton has hit .355 with seven homers and 24 RBIs in 37 games, and Hawpe has hit .284 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 24 games. ... PETCO is considered a pitcher's park, and Jimenez said the humidity's effect on the baseball helps him with his breaking ball grip. ... Center fielder Willy Taveras has hit safely in five straight. ... Reserve infielder Clint Barmes hit a home run and drove in four runs while subbing for Tulowitzki on Sunday. If Hurdle wants to stay with the hot hand, he can use Barmes in place of second baseman Jayson Nix (1-for-3 on Sunday, .179 overall).

Tickets
 Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• FSN

On radio
• KOA 850

Up next
• Wednesday: Rockies (Mark Redman, 1-1, 5.06) at Padres (Justin Germano, 0-0, 0.00), 8:05 p.m. MT
• Thursday: Rockies (Jeff Francis, 0-2, 9.53) at Padres (Jake Peavy, 3-0, 1.64), 8:05 p.m. MT
• Friday: Rockies (TBD) at Astros (TBD), 6:05 p.m. MT