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Rays-Rockies Preview

Jun 18, 2009 - 5:32 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Tampa Bay (35-31) at Colorado (31-33), 3:10 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rockies and Tampa Bay Rays were the hottest teams in the majors going into their meeting in Denver this week, so it's fitting that the series will be decided in Thursday afternoon's finale.

The last two World Series runners-up will also be looking to inch closer to contention when Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez and Tampa Bay's Matt Garza face off in a matchup of hard-throwing pitchers.

The Rockies' 11-game winning streak ended when they lost 12-4 on Tuesday, giving the Rays a sixth straight win for the longest run in the majors. Colorado (32-33) promptly ended that streak Wednesday, winning 5-3.

"This was a big game for us," Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. "To win 11 and then to lose how we did yesterday, it was kind of a statement game to come back and say, 'Hey, we're still a good team. It wasn't a fluke that we won 11 games in a row.'"

Tulowitzki is still trying to prove that his breakout 2007 season wasn't a fluke, and his last 10 games have certainly helped. After hitting a three-run homer Wednesday, he is 12 for 32 (.375) with four home runs and nine RBIs over that span to raise his average from .216 to .241.

He has sparked an offense that is averaging 6.3 runs and batting .298 in the last 13 games as the Rockies have pulled into the thick of the NL wild- card race under manager Jim Tracy, who replaced Clint Hurdle on May 29.

Colorado's pitching has also been outstanding in the last two weeks, with a 3.31 ERA despite allowing 12 earned runs Tuesday.

Jimenez (5-6, 3.92 ERA) has been a big part of that success. The right-hander, who has battled problems with control and efficiency in the past, has thrown 17 innings while winning his last two starts, pitching his second career complete game in Friday's 6-4 win over Seattle.

"I am improving in every aspect of the game," said Jimenez, who threw a career-high 127 pitches. "In the last couple of years if I started a game like that allowing two or three runs, I would be down. I wouldn't have been able to get out of the fifth inning, but now I have a little confidence."

Garza (4-4, 3.63) hasn't been able to get through the sixth in his last two starts, and he hasn't won since May 16. He threw 116 pitches in 5 2-3 innings Friday against Washington, walking four and allowing three runs and seven hits while not receiving a decision in a 4-3 win.

Each pitcher will be facing his opponent for the first time, and each will be trying to move his team to 7-2 in interleague play. The Rays (35-32) will also be looking to win a series in Colorado for the first time, as they came into this week 1-5 there.

The reigning AL champs have won 12 of their last 17 to claw back into the conversation in the AL East, but the Rays' high-powered offense sputtered Wednesday. Tampa Bay leads the majors with 382 runs but went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

"The goal has got to be to win the series," outfielder Pat Burrell told the Rays' official Web site. "We're going to lose games. I think we feel like (Wednesday), we had some opportunities we didn't capitalize on and faced a pretty good pitcher. We've got to win (Thursday)."