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Braves-Rockies Preview

Jul 11, 2009 - 7:08 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Atlanta (42-44) at Colorado (46-40), 8:10 p.m. EDT

When the Colorado Rockies acquired Jason Marquis in January, general manager Dan O'Dowd said the team knew how to make the right-hander a better pitcher.

O'Dowd's words have proved correct, and the first-time All-Star will try to conclude an unexpectedly successful first half Saturday night with his major league-leading 12th win as the Rockies continue a four-game home series against one of his former teams, the Atlanta Braves.

On Jan. 6, Colorado got Marquis from the Chicago Cubs for reliever Luis Vizcaino. The 30-year-old, who was 23-18 in two years with the Cubs, was also 50-48 over his previous four seasons after winning a career-high 15 games for St. Louis in 2004, but left off his teams' postseason rosters in 2006 and 2007.

"We have some definite things we can work with him on to try to get some more consistency," O'Dowd told the Rockies' official Web site following the deal.

One of those adjustments came to his delivery so he could get the more out of his pitches, especially when he was struggling. That has translated into one of the best first-half performances in franchise history as a win Saturday will give him the team's record for victories before the All-Star break.

Marquis (11-5, 3.61 ERA) will also look to set a career-high streak for consecutive scoreless innings Saturday against Atlanta, where he was 14-15 in his first four seasons from 2000-2003.

He tossed eight innings Monday night against the Washington Nationals to win the eighth 1-0 game in Coors Field's 15-year history after a three-hit shutout June 30 against the host Los Angeles Dodgers. Marquis' longest career shutout streak is 18 1-3 innings from Aug. 24-Sept. 10, 2004.

He will also search for a third straight win over Atlanta after allowing one run over eight innings May 18 in a 5-1 win at Turner Field. The right-hander has a 2.03 ERA in consecutive wins over the Braves after going 0-3 with a 14.04 ERA in his first four starts.

Marquis will also search for his ninth win following a Colorado loss after the Rockies fell 4-1 on Friday night.

By evening the series, Atlanta (42-44) ended the Rockies' win streak at four and improved to 4-4 on its season-high 10-game road trip. Garret Anderson and Diory Hernandez each had two-run doubles.

Colorado (46-40), got its lone run on Todd Helton's homer in losing for just the eighth time in 34 contests, but suffered perhaps a greater loss when reliever Alan Embree was hit by a line drive in the seventh and fractured his right tibia.

Embree is expected to have season-ending surgery Saturday.

Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens (6-7, 2.91) will try to improve on a 1-5 record over his last seven starts with a fourth straight win over the Rockies.

Jurrjens, who allowed one run over seven innings in an 8-1 home win against Colorado on May 19, gave up four runs over six innings in Monday night's 9-2 loss to the host Chicago Cubs.

Ryan Church, acquired Friday from the New York Mets for Jeff Francoeur, is expected to start in right field for the Braves. Church is a lifetime .325 (13 for 40) hitter against the Rockies and is 7 for 17 (.412) at Coors Field.

"He gives us an additional offensive spark and plays very good defense and can also play center field," Braves general manager Frank Wren said.