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Rockies-Giants Preview

Sep 16, 2009 - 6:58 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Colorado (82-63) at San Francisco (78-66), 10:15 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rockies hope the next time they play in San Francisco will be the last time this season.

Hoping to again increase their wild-card lead over San Francisco, the Rockies try to avoid a second sweep in under three weeks by the pesky Giants at AT&T Park on Wednesday night.

Colorado's 10-2 loss Tuesday was its fourth straight overall and fifth in a row to the Giants, who moved 2 1/2 games behind the wild-card leading Rockies (82-64). San Francisco swept a three-game set with Colorado at home from Aug. 28-30.

"It's black and white," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said of the final scheduled meeting between the teams. "We have the opportunity to win a game in this series and move ahead with a 3 1/2-game lead, or we'll have a 1 1/2-game lead. It's a big cushion versus giving it back is what is on the table (Wednesday). It doesn't come easy."

Looking for its fourth straight victory since losing four in a row, San Francisco (79-66) clinched the season series by improving to 10-7 versus the Rockies. That could come into play as the Giants would host a one-game playoff if the clubs are tied for the wild card.

The Giants, who are 7-1 against the Rockies at AT&T Park, have outscored the Dodgers and Rockies 26-5 in their last three contests after being outscored 19-4 in the previous two with AL West-leading Los Angeles.

"We're just clicking right now," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Hopefully this is something we can continue and keep the momentum going. ... We still have some ground to make up."

Juan Uribe drove in three runs Tuesday for the Giants, who are batting .297 in their last five games against Colorado.

The veteran infielder is batting .474 with six RBIs in his last five games and 9 for 20 with five RBIs in his last five versus the Rockies, who hope scheduled starter Jorge De La Rosa can continue his overall success against the Giants.

Trying for his third straight victory, De La Rosa (14-9, 4.37 ERA), is 5-0 with a 2.56 ERA in six starts against the Giants and 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA at AT&T. He's 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts against the Giants - both at Coors Field - this season.

In his last outing Friday, the left-hander allowed one run and struck out eight in seven innings, but didn't earn a decision in a 4-1 win at San Diego. De La Rosa is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three September starts.

The Giants counter with Matt Cain (13-5, 2.61), who'll try for a second time to record a career high for victories.

Cain looks to bounce back after giving up four runs in six innings of a 10-3 loss to the Dodgers on Friday to fall to 1-3 with a 3.31 ERA in his last nine starts.

The right-hander is 8-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 17 starts against Colorado, including 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA in four this season.

Troy Tulowitzki hit his team-leading 26th homer and Dexter Fowler had two of the five hits Tuesday for the Rockies, who are batting .177 while being outscored 29-8 during their four-game skid.

Though Colorado's Todd Helton is batting .390 against San Francisco this season, he's 1 for 12 in his last five contests overall.