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Rockies-Cardinals Preview

Jun 8, 2009 - 4:22 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Colorado (23-32) at St. Louis (31-25), 2:15 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rockies have put together a series of impressive performances at the plate over the last few games. Just as important to their recent success has been their ability to nearly shut down Albert Pujols.

On Monday, the Rockies look to complete their first four-game road sweep of Pujols and the Cardinals in franchise history.

After scoring nine runs during a four-game losing streak, Colorado (24-32) has responded by outscoring opponents 38-10 during four straight victories, a season high.

The Rockies beat the Cardinals (31-26) 7-2 on Sunday as catcher Paul Phillips went 4 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs while Clint Barmes had three hits, including a two-run double in the eighth.

Phillips has played in seven games since being called up from the minors on May 24 after Chris Iannetta suffered a hamstring injury and Yorvit Torrealba left the team to deal with personal matters. Iannetta is due back Tuesday, according to the Rockies' official Web site. Phillips had two career-high, three-hit games before Sunday.

"Four hits is great, but if I can have my pitcher do what he needs to do on a consistent basis, that's more gratifying," said Phillips, who has played parts of six seasons with Kansas City, the Chicago White Sox and Colorado.

The Rockies, who last won five in a row Aug. 15-20, have also done an excellent job of cooling Pujols off. The slugging first baseman came in batting .520 (13 for 25) with five doubles, three homers and eight RBIs over his previous seven games, but is just 1 for 10 in this series with a home run and three RBIs. He hit a two-run sacrifice fly in the first inning of Sunday's loss.

St. Louis has dropped seven of 10 and is batting .200 during this series, striking out 22 times. The Cardinals, who are 2-5 on this eight-game homestand, have scored three or fewer runs in seven of their last 10 contests.

"It's a tough time," manager Tony La Russa said. "Just don't throw your hands up, and whatever you do, don't get depressed. If you want to do anything, get upset because that's adrenaline."

St. Louis last dropped four in a row at home against Milwaukee July 21-24.

The Rockies will send former Cardinal Jason Marquis (7-4, 4.10 ERA) to the mound as he seeks his NL-leading eighth victory.

Marquis had his personal three-game winning streak snapped Wednesday after allowing five runs and 10 hits in six innings of a 6-4 loss to Houston. He had a 1.14 ERA in his previous three starts.

Marquis is with his second team since leaving the Cardinals in 2006 as a free agent. In two seasons with the Chicago Cubs, he was 3-2 with a 4.45 ERA against his former team, including 2-2 with a 5.79 ERA in St. Louis.

Brad Thompson (0-1, 4.12) will counter for the Cardinals. The right-hander made his first start of the season Tuesday in place of the injured Joel Pineiro and pitched five innings, allowing two runs and five hits in a 5-2 victory.

Thompson hadn't appeared in a game since May 17 before last week's start. He'll be pitching Monday instead of Kyle Lohse, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list last week with a forearm injury.

Thompson is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three starts and four relief appearances against the Rockies.