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Brewers-Rockies Preview

Sep 28, 2009 - 6:20 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Milwaukee (77-79) at Colorado (88-68), 8:40 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rockies haven't taken advantage of all their opportunities to shore up their bid for the NL wild card. Jason Marquis has been part of the problem.

Marquis will try to snap out of his recent funk and help the Rockies move closer to a playoff return Tuesday night when they open a three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field.

Colorado (88-68) didn't appear to be a factor in the NL after holding a 20-32 mark on June 3. However, the club rebounded in a big way, winning 62 of its next 90 to move atop the wild-card chase.

The Rockies have cooled of late, dropping eight of 13 before beating St. Louis 4-3 on Sunday. With one week remaining in the regular season, they're trying to hold off surging Atlanta.

Marquis (15-12, 3.98 ERA) has been part of Colorado's recent struggles, going 1-4 with a 6.49 ERA in his last six starts. He's 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA over his last three outings, the first time the Rockies have lost three straight games started by the veteran right-hander.

"I've done a poor job the last few times out," Marquis told the Rockies' official Web site. "You can't control the outcome of what the hitters do, but you can control your emotions and how you handle yourself on the mound. I'm ready to move forward and do what I was doing the first few months."

Despite his recent slump, Marquis has matched his career high in wins, set with St. Louis in 2004. Reaching a new mark could be tough against a Milwaukee team he struggled with last season. He was 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in three games - two starts - against the Brewers in 2008.

Marquis feels Sunday's bullpen session helped him address some recent mechanical problems.

"Not only in the bullpen session, but just playing catch, I feel I'm where I was two or three months ago," he said. "I'm cleaning up my downhill angle.

"When you get into a game, there's a lot more adrenaline going on, so you've got to be able to slow everything down and incorporate it. I'm excited about getting the ball on Tuesday."

The Rockies have won 10 of their last 13 meetings with the Brewers (77-79), including a three-game road sweep from June 9-11 - the clubs' only previous matchups this season. Colorado's won six of seven against Milwaukee at Coors Field.

While some players relish playing the role of the spoiler, Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder said he wouldn't take any additional pleasure from beating a team in the playoff hunt.

"I don't care about messing up somebody's dreams or anything like that," Fielder told the team's official Web site. "I just want to win for us. You play to win, so you might as well win. As far as trying to mess someone else's goals up, I don't get into that."

Milwaukee split a four-game series against NL East-leading Philadelphia over the weekend. Its rally in Sunday's finale fell short as Mike Cameron struck out with Fielder on third to end a 6-5 loss.

Chris Narveson (2-0, 3.82) will take the ball Tuesday for his fourth start since being moved into the Milwaukee rotation.

The left-hander, who has never faced Colorado, is making a strong case for a starting job next season. He's 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 13 2-3 innings in three starts - all Brewers wins.

Narveson was outstanding Wednesday, allowing one run and striking out a career-high 10 in 5 2-3 innings to beat Chicago 3-2.