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Rockies, Nationals to play Thursday doubleheader

Aug 7, 2008 - 4:18 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- After nearly two hours of waiting, the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals had their meeting postponed Wednesday night.

A line of thunderstorms that threatened to stick around for much of the night necessitated a doubleheader on Thursday, with the first game scheduled for 3:05 p.m. EDT. The second contest will start 25 minutes after the completion of the opener.

The teams have split the first two games of the series, with the Nationals taking Monday's opener, 9-4, and the Rockies cruising to an 8-2 triumph on Tuesday.

Jason Bergmann (1-8) will take the mound for Washington in Thursday's opener against Colorado lefthander Jeff Francis (3-7). Bergmann has not won since May 15 despite posting a 3.59 ERA in 14 games - 13 starts.

Francis will be making his first start since June 28 after spending the past six weeks on the disabled list with inflammation in his left shoulder.

The red-hot Ubaldo Jimenez (8-9), who has won four starts in a row, will go for the Rockies in the nightcap against Nationals lefthander Odalis Perez (4-8).

Jimenez is 7-3 with a 1.87 ERA over his past 11 starts after beginning the season 1-6 with a 5.43 mark in his first 13 outings.