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Rockies-Nationals Preview

Aug 20, 2009 - 4:33 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Colorado (66-53) at Washington (43-76), 7:05 p.m. EDT

A week and a half ago, Carlos Gonzalez wasn't considered much of a power threat. Now he's being mentioned along with the top home run hitters in Colorado Rockies history.

Gonzalez looks to match a club record by homering in his fifth straight game as the Rockies try to sweep the Washington Nationals for the third consecutive time Thursday night.

Gonzalez tied a team record with a homer in his fourth straight road game, helping Colorado (67-53) beat Washington 5-4 on Wednesday night for its eighth straight win against the Nationals (43-77).

With his solo home run in the eighth inning, Gonzalez tied five different Rockies players who have connected in four straight road games and moved within one of tying the overall club record for consecutive games with a homer.

Larry Walker and Dante Bichette - two players with a combined 657 career homers - each hit home runs in five straight games for the Rockies.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, has homered in six of his last eight games after connecting six times in his previous 130 games in the majors.

"You would like to see one of those every once in a while with the bases loaded, but I won't beg," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy, whose team left the bases full three times in the first six innings.

The 23-year-old center fielder isn't the only Colorado player with a home run streak.

Clint Barmes has homered in three straight games, giving him 20 on the season. The second baseman is hitting .381 with five RBIs in his last five games against the Nationals.

The Rockies, trying to hold on to a one-game lead over San Francisco in the NL wild-card race, will next face Garrett Mock (2-4, 5.27 ERA), who has posted a 1.50 ERA in winning his last two outings.

In his sixth start since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, the right-hander struck out six in six innings of Washington's 2-0 victory over Cincinnati on Friday night.

"He's been a little sharper each time out," Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said.

Mock's only appearance against Colorado was in relief Aug. 16, 2008. He gave three runs in two innings of a 13-3 Washington loss.

The Rockies will counter with Jason Hammel (7-7, 4.73), who is 2-3 with a 6.65 ERA in his last five starts. The right-hander gave up three runs, six hits and walked four in four innings Friday night, suffering a loss as Colorado fell 6-5 to Florida.

Hammel faced Washington for the first time July 7 at Coors Field. He yielded four runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings but didn't receive a decision in a 5-4 Colorado victory.

Huston Street has converted all four of his save opportunities against the Nationals this season. He pitched the ninth Wednesday to earn his 31st save in 32 attempts, and has now converted a team-record 23 save opportunities in a row.

Street came through despite allowing a home run to Josh Bard on his first pitch. It was the 31st homer in 495 career games for the catcher.

Bard's shot wasn't enough to help the Nationals avoid their fifth loss in eight games overall. Washington had won eight straight at home entering this series.