• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Pirates-Rockies Preview

Jun 20, 2009 - 6:18 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Pittsburgh (31-35) at Colorado (33-33), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rockies' run of impressive pitching performances didn't stop with their series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The surging Rockies look for another strong effort from arguably their most consistent starter of late as they continue a three-game set with the visiting Pirates on Saturday night.

Jason Marquis came within one out of his sixth career complete game in Friday's 7-3 victory, and tied Los Angeles' Chad Billingsley and San Francisco's Matt Cain for the NL lead with his ninth win.

Colorado (34-33) starting pitchers have posted a 2.64 ERA while winning 14 of the last 15 games.

Now, Jason Hammel (4-3, 4.10 ERA) will try to extend his career-best streak of consecutive winning decisions to five. The right-hander will also try to help Colorado move two games above .500 for the first time since it was 3-1 on April 10.

The Rockies are 16-5 since former Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy took over for the fired Clint Hurdle on May 29.

"It's huge," shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said of the Rockies' turnaround. "I think it shows that we have a lot of talent. I mean, it's impressive because it got pretty bad. There's still a long way to go, but to be one game over .500, we've come a long way."

Hammel is 4-0 with a 3.54 ERA In five starts since falling to Atlanta on May 19. He allowed one run and five hits over 5 1-3 innings Sunday in a 7-1 win over Seattle at Coors Field.

The right-hander lost in his only career appearance against Pittsburgh, giving up a run in the 13th inning for Tampa Bay in a 4-3 defeat on June 28.

With another injury to a key member of their bullpen, the Rockies could use extended outings from their starters. Manny Corpas was diagnosed with a swollen right elbow before Friday's game and an MRI revealed a floating bone chip.

Corpas - 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA and one save in three chances - is expected to be rested for 48 hours before seeing if he can return to the mound.

"I don't want to go on the DL, but only God knows if I will," Corpas said. "I'm hoping this rest will work. It's already less swelled up than it was. This morning it was really (puffy)."

During spring training, the Rockies lost setup man Taylor Buchholz to Tommy John surgery. Alan Embree, who recorded the final out in the opener of this series on one pitch, and Matt Daley are expected to share set-up duties.

Pittsburgh's Charlie Morton (0-0, 0.00) is looking to bounce back from an injury suffered in his debut with his new team. Morton, who was acquired from Atlanta in a four-player deal for Nate McLouth on June 3, left after one scoreless inning one week later against his former team because of a strained left hamstring.

"I was disappointed," the right-hander told the team's official Web site. "All I can do now is try to get better."

The Pirates (31-36) are trying to avoid their sixth straight loss in Denver and longest road skid since the series began in 1993.