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Rockies-Braves Preview

Apr 18, 2010 - 4:33 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Colorado (5-5) at Atlanta (6-4), 1:35 p.m. EDT

Ubaldo Jimenez made history for the Colorado Rockies in their last game.

Greg Smith has the difficult task of trying to follow his memorable performance.

Smith takes the mound a day after Jimenez threw the first no-hitter in Rockies history as they look to take two of three from the host Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

One night after Jason Hammel gave up seven runs in 1 2-3 innings in a 9-5 loss to Atlanta, Jimenez followed that miserable outing by pitching the first no-hitter in Colorado's 18-year history with a 4-0 victory over the Braves on Saturday night.

"It is every pitcher's dream to be out there for nine innings and throw a no-hitter," Jimenez said.

The 26-year-old right-hander walked six in the first five innings, but settled down after pitching coach Bob Apodaca advised him to begin working out of the stretch. He retired 15 straight to end the game, including Martin Prado, who came in on a 15-game hitting streak, Chipper Jones and Brian McCann in the ninth.

"That was domination," Jones said. "Only one ball came close to falling."

That ball was Troy Glaus' drive to left-center field in the seventh inning which seemed out of the reach of center fielder Dexter Fowler, but a spectacular diving catch kept the no-hitter intact.

"That was unbelievable," said Jimenez, who needed 128 pitches to complete the night. "The way he dove, I was like unbelievable."

Troy Tulowitzki provided the only run Jimenez needed with a sacrifice fly in the first that brought in Carlos Gonzalez. Gonzalez drove in two runs in the fourth inning, finishing the night with two doubles to raise his batting average to .382.

It was the first time the Braves, who had won three straight, were held hitless since Randy Johnson's no-hitter for Arizona on May 18, 2004. Atlanta (6-5) scored 21 runs over its previous three games and had a season-high 13 hits the night before against the Rockies (6-5).

The Braves will try to bounce back against Smith (1-1, 5.25 ERA), who has the almost impossible task of following Jimenez's historic outing.

Smith is looking to build off his first victory in nearly two years. The left-hander pitched seven innings against the Mets on Tuesday, allowing two runs and six hits in an 11-3 win - his first since Sept. 6, 2008, with Oakland.

Smith had been out of the majors since going 7-16 with a 4.16 ERA as a rookie with the Athletics in 2008.

"The National League's more my style," he said. "You know, the strategy with the running game or the hitting behind a runner or the hit-and-run or you've got to sacrifice a guy over."

Jair Jurrjens (0-1, 8.64) counters for Atlanta as he tries to bounce back after the worst outing of his career.

Jurrjens gave up a career-high eight runs and eight his over 3 1-3 innings of a 17-2 loss to San Diego on Monday.

"He couldn't get ahead of the hitters," manager Bobby Cox said. "It just got worse. It was the worst I've seen him pitch."

However, the right-hander has won his last four starts against the Rockies, including two victories at Coors Field, posting a 2.36 ERA over those four outings.

Tulowitzki is 4 for 11 with a home run against Jurrjens.