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Diamondbacks-Rockies Preview

Jul 4, 2009 - 5:59 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Arizona (31-48) at Colorado (41-37), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Aaron Cook probably didn't want to see June come to an end.

The Colorado right-hander looks to carry over his recent success into July while trying for a sixth straight victory Saturday night when the Rockies continue a three-game set with the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field.

Staking his claim for a second straight All-Star Game appearance, Cook (8-3, 3.77 ERA) allowed one run and nine hits in eight innings of a 3-1 win at Oakland on Sunday. The right-hander went 5-1 with a 2.36 ERA last month.

"Even when other teams get one or two hits, he's always one pitch away from putting the inning down," Rockies' manager Jim Tracy said of Cook, who posted a 1.75 ERA in his last five starts. "That's the mindset of a pro, the mindset of a stalwart, front end of the rotation guy."

Cook won six in a row from April 13-May 9, 2008, during his career-high 16-win season.

"When Cookie's on the mound, it's pretty close to 100 percent that he's going to have a quality start and give us a chance to win," shortstop Troy Tulowitzki told the Rockies' official Web site.

Cook allowed six runs in 2 1-3 innings, but didn't factor in a 9-8 loss to the Diamondbacks on April 6. He is 5-4 with a 5.26 ERA in 17 starts versus Arizona.

After dropping two of three to the NL-leading Los Angeles Dodgers this week, Colorado (42-37) opened this set with a 5-0 win Friday for its sixth straight home win. The Rockies are 24-9 since Tracy replaced the fired Clint Hurdle as manager in May.

"We made a statement that we're a baseball team, a quality baseball team," said outfielder Brad Hawpe, who's batting .328.

Jorge De La Rosa pitched eight strong innings and Ian Stewart hit his team-leading 15th homer as the Rockies handed the Diamondbacks (31-49) their third straight loss and 11th in the last 13 contests.

Shut out for the second time in three games, Arizona had four hits for the second straight contest and committed three errors to raise their major league-leading total to 74. The Diamondbacks' .242 batting average is among the worst in the majors.

"We looked like the Bad News Bears out there," said third baseman Mark Reynolds, whose batting .333 (7 for 21) in his last six games. "It's frustrating as (expletive) out there. It's to the point where stuff's got to change. Guys got to give a damn."

Arizona is expected to activate Yusmeiro Petit (0-3, 8.03) from the disabled list to start this contest.

Petit has been out with a strained shoulder since his last start on May 8, when he allowed four runs and six hits in four innings of a 5-4 loss to Washington.

The right-hander went 0-1 with a 6.89 ERA during a rehab stint at Triple-A Reno.

"He hasn't pitched as well as we would have liked," manager A.J. Hinch told the Diamondbacks' official Web site. "The opportunity is there for him. Hopefully, he'll start to take over."

Petit has a 1.80 ERA in two career starts against the Rockies, but didn't record a decision in either one. He allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings of a 9-6 loss to Colorado on April 21.