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Francis tries to end season with third straight win

Sep 30, 2006 - 2:23 PM Colorado (75-85) at Chicago Cubs (65-95) 4:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Jeff Francis tries to end the season with a third straight win as the Colorado Rockies face the Chicago Cubs on Saturday in the middle contest of the season-ending three-game series.

Francis (13-11, 4.02 ERA) won his second straight start, a 10-9 victory over Atlanta last Saturday despite giving up five runs, nine hits and three walks in five innings. To make it three in a row, the Canadian lefthander will have to turn around his struggles against the Cubs.

In two career starts, Francis has yet to factor in a decision against Chicago, giving up 10 runs in 9 1/3 innings.

The Cubs counter with rookie Juan Mateo (1-3, 4.09), who has dropped three consecutive decisions.

Despite the losing slump, the Dominican righthander was effective in his previous start, yielding a run and three hits in five frames in a 3-2 loss at Cincinnati on Sunday. Mateo, who did not figure in the decision, did walk a season-high four batters.

Mateo's last seven appearances have all resulted in losses for the Cubs.

On Friday, Colorado opened the series with a 5-2 triumph in which Garrett Atkins had two hits and an RBI. For Chicago, Aramis Ramirez drove in two runs, rookie Ryan Theriot added three hits and Juan Pierre recorded his 200th base hit of the season.