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Rockies-Athletics Preview

Jun 27, 2009 - 7:00 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Colorado (38-35) at Oakland (31-41), 9:05 p.m. EDT

While wins in Oakland have been rare for the Colorado Rockies, victories this month have been plentiful.

After a brief hiccup, the Rockies look to continue their strong play in June on Saturday night when they continue a three-game series with the Athletics.

Colorado (38-35) snapped a seven-game road losing streak to the A's with Friday night's 4-2 victory - winning for the 18th time in their last 21 games - and ended a brief two-game slide as Garrett Atkins and Todd Helton each drove in two runs.

The Rockies hit .305 while winning 17 of 18 but averaged seven hits in consecutive defeats to the Los Angeles Angels. Atkins had three of Colorado's six hits, and while the Rockies failed to hit a home run for the ninth consecutive game, they moved within two victories of tying the franchise record of 20 victories in a single month established in September 2007.

"We're getting the timely hitting, and it's helping me win some ballgames," said Friday's starter Jason Hammel, who finished this month 4-0.

Colorado, which is three games above .500 for the first time since finishing the 2007 season with a 90-73 record, try to get consecutive victories for the first time ever at Oakland behind Jorge De La Rosa (3-7, 5.85 ERA).

After starting 0-6 with a 5.43 ERA in his first 10 starts, De La Rosa is 3-1 in his last four despite a 6.97 ERA. He got the victory in Sunday's 5-4 win over visiting Pittsburgh despite allowing four runs in 5 2-3 innings.

He is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in two career starts against the A's but has never pitched in Oakland.

The A's (31-41), who have lost 11 of their last 16, have been outscored 14-6 in their three straight defeats.

Oakland outfielder Matt Holliday, however, has four doubles during that skid - two coming Friday in his first meeting with the Rockies since he was traded in November as part of a four-player deal that included current Colorado closer Huston Street, who earned his 17th save in 18 attempts.

Kurt Suzuki homered for the second time in as many games with a solo shot in the seventh. The A's also committed two errors Friday and have six during their skid.

"We've just got to go out there and start playing good baseball," third baseman Jack Hannahan said. "We started slow, but if we start to get some big hits and play good defense, we'll see what happens."

Rookie right-hander Trevor Cahill (5-5, 3.68) will try to change his team's fortunes with his fourth win in June. Cahill is 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in his last four starts after going 2-5 with a 4.33 ERA in his first 11 outings.

He earned the victory in Monday night's 5-1 win over visiting San Francisco by allowing one run over seven innings.