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Rockies-Nationals Preview

Apr 18, 2010 - 11:56 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Colorado (6-5) at Washington (6-5), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Strong relief pitching has helped Colorado put together a strong run against the Washington Nationals. The Rockies, though, may not be feeling too confident with a lead heading into the late innings these days.

The Rockies, struggling with closer Huston Street out due to injury, look to continue their winning ways against the Nationals on Monday night.

Colorado (6-6) enters this four-game series having won nine straight against Washington (6-6). The Rockies won five of those games by one run and one contest by three, converting all six of their save opportunities.

The last five saves were earned by Street, but he started this season on the 15-day disabled list due to right shoulder stiffness and is expected to be out until May.

Franklin Morales, filling in for Street, has blown two of four save chances. Morales gave up two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss to Atlanta on Sunday.

Colorado lost two of three in the series, winning 4-0 on Ubaldo Jimenez's no-hitter on Saturday night. But Jimenez had six walks in that contest and the Rockies have given up 34 - 10 by relievers - in 44 2-3 innings over their last five games.

Aaron Cook (0-1, 5.56 ERA), set to take his turn in Colorado's rotation, struggled with control in his last outing. He walked four and gave up three runs in six innings of a 6-5, 10-inning win over New York on Wednesday night.

The right-hander is 2-1 with a 3.63 ERA in five starts and three relief appearances against the Nationals.

Washington will counter with Craig Stammen (0-0, 15.63), who has faced Philadelphia and its potent lineup in each of his first two starts, allowing 11 runs in 6 1-3 innings. He lasted 1 1-3 innings in his last outing, surrendering seven runs and seven hits in a 14-7 loss Wednesday night.

"The important thing is to bounce back," Stammen said.

The right-hander got two runs to work with in two starts versus the Rockies as a rookie last season, going 0-1 with a 2.19 ERA.

Washington had gotten effective pitching during a three-game winning streak, but Jason Marquis couldn't have been much worse against Milwaukee on Sunday, giving up seven runs in the first inning without recording an out in an 11-7 loss. Miguel Batista relieved Marquis, only to give up a grand slam that capped a 10-run inning.

The Nationals yielded two runs over their previous two games, faltering in the finale of a three-game series with the Brewers after a 24-hour stretch in which they were above .500 for the first time in more than two years.

At the plate, though, Washington had another productive performance, posting a season-high 16 hits. The Nationals have scored seven runs or more in four of their last five games.

Ivan Rodriguez and Adam Kennedy had three hits apiece for Washington. Rodriguez is 7 for 13 with four doubles and six RBIs over his last three games.

Speedy center fielder Nyjer Morgan should be back in the starting lineup for the Nationals after sitting out his first game of the season. Morgan has had a slow start, batting .220.

"I'm not going to play (Morgan) 162 games," manager Jim Riggleman said.