• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Francis dominates Reds, helps Rockies snap two-game skid

Jun 3, 2007 - 5:55 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Jeff Francis continued to impress and Todd Helton made sure his work was rewarded.

Francis threw seven dominant innings and Helton had a first-inning two-run homer as the Colorado Rockies posted a 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

Francis (5-4) retired his first 12 hitters and allowed just one hit through five innings in the shortest game in Coors Field history at 2 hours, 11 minutes.

"Yeah, your cleanup hitter hits a home run in the first inning," Francis said. "There's nothing better than that. It's just what you're looking for. He has been anchoring the lineup."

Meanwhile Francis has been anchoring the pitching staff. The 26-year-old has allowed two runs or less in his last six starts, came through to help the Rockies snap a two-game skid and avoid their longest losing streak of the season.

However, Francis does not think of himself as a stopper.

"I'm really thinking about it like that," Francis said. "It's nice to be on a roll and to be that guy the team can depend on to win one."

Colorado manager Clint Hurdle spoke of Francis' hot streak.

"He has just really been pitching, making pitches," he said. "His last five starts he's been on a nice streak we haven't seen around here in a long time."

The lefthander has been Colorado's best starter, throwing at least seven innings in his last seven starts. On Saturday, he allowed just one run and five hits in seven frames with six strikeouts and one walk.

Francis lost his shutout bid in the seventh when he allowed consecutive doubles to Alex Gonzalez and Edwin Encarnacion.

"Jeff Francis pitched really well and kept us off-balance," Cincinnati manager Jerry Narron said. "Kyle (Lohse) did a nice job for us, too. He made one mistake there to Helton in the first inning and Helton took advantage of it."

Manny Corpas pitched a scoreless eighth and Brian Fuentes worked the ninth for his 16th save in as many chances.

Helton provided Francis with an early cushion by blasting a two-run homer to center field in the first. It was his sixth home run of the season.

"I hit it good, obviously, but you never know here the way the ball is flying," Helton said.

Francis was ecstatic to have the early run support.

"It's great having a lead early in the game," Francis said. "Especially with the way I felt. It was just kind of a boost and you can go after guys a little more."

Kaz Matsui, who had two hits, scored two of the four runs for Colorado, which has won three of the four meeting this season with the Reds.

Matsui gave the Rockies a 3-0 lead when he led off the fourth with a single and took off for second with Matt Holliday at the plate. Holliday hit a pop out to second, but Brandon Phillips could not make a play because he was covering second.

Lohse (2-7) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings for the Reds, who had won five of their last six games.