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Diamondbacks-Rockies Preview

Jul 2, 2009 - 10:20 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Arizona (31-47) at Colorado (41-37), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rockies desperately need a boost at the plate, especially with Jorge De La Rosa set to make another start at Coors Field.

After a disappointing end to a road trip, the Rockies look to get back on track at home but may need a big effort from their lineup as they open a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.

Colorado (41-37), the majors' hottest team with 17 wins in 18 games before struggling at the end of a 5-4 road trip, has scored a combined eight runs in its last four games. The Rockies were held to three hits in a 1-0 loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday - their fourth defeat in six contests on the trip against the two Los Angeles teams.

"The way we've been swinging the bat, I know we can do better, and I know we will do better," Colorado manager Jim Tracy told the team's official Web site.

The Rockies have won 10 of 12 at Coors Field, and are averaging 6.0 runs while batting .321 with 11 homers during a five-game winning streak there. They'll need another strong effort at the plate if De La Rosa (4-7, 5.64 ERA) falters at home again.

The left-hander is 1-5 with a 7.97 ERA in seven starts at Coors. Though he surrendered four runs over 5 2-3 innings in his last outing there, De La Rosa managed to earn his first home win of the season as Colorado beat Pittsburgh 5-4 on June 21.

De La Rosa has four wins in his last five starts overall after going winless in his first 10. On Saturday night, the left-hander gave up two runs and five hits while striking out five in six innings of Colorado's 11-9 victory over Oakland.

He leads the team with 87 strikeouts in 81 1-3 innings.

"I never try to strike out people," De La Rosa said. "I try to pitch to contact but things happen."

De La Rosa and the rest of the Rockies will regain the services of catcher Yorvit Torrealba, who has been reinstated from the restricted list after missing 27 games while attending to matters involving the kidnapping and safe recovery of his family members in Venezuela.

Though Torrealba usually serves as Chris Iannetta's backup, the pair have seen nearly equal time this season with De La Rosa on the mound. De La Rosa has fared better with Iannetta, posting a 4.18 ERA in 32 1-3 innings compared with a 7.92 ERA in 30 2-3 innings with Torrealba behind the plate.

Max Scherzer (5-5, 3.67) will take the mound for Arizona (31-48). The right-hander saw a three-start winning streak end Sunday, giving up eight runs - three earned - and four hits in 4 1-3 innings as Arizona lost 12-8 to the Los Angeles Angels.

Scherzer had posted a 1.46 ERA in his previous four starts, striking out 24 in 24 2-3 innings.

Scherzer lost his only start against the Rockies, surrendering three runs and seven hits in six innings of a 3-2 defeat last Sept. 19.

On Thursday, Arizona failed to take advantage of an excellent start from Doug Davis in a 3-2, 10-inning loss at Cincinnati.

The Diamondbacks loaded the bases twice but failed to score as they fell to a season-high 17 games below .500. Arizona has lost 10 of its last 12 despite posting a 3.82 ERA during that span.

"Today was a gut shot," manager A.J. Hinch said. "We had a chance to win a close game. We didn't find a way to get the last piece."

These teams have split six meetings thus far in 2009.