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Diamondbacks-Rockies Preview

Apr 26, 2010 - 4:15 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Arizona (7-10) at Colorado (9-9), 8:40 p.m. EDT

In their first series at home following the death of Keli McGregor, the Colorado Rockies paid tribute to their late team president with a pair of wins.

Still with heavy hearts following Sunday's Coors Field memorial service for McGregor, the Rockies will try to match a season-high three-game winning streak Monday when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks.

McGregor, who joined the Rockies in 1993 and was named team president in 2001, was found unconscious in a Salt Lake City hotel room Tuesday morning and later pronounced dead. Sunday's series finale against Florida was pushed back two hours for a ceremony honoring McGregor's life.

"When I woke up this morning, I really was asking myself how I was going to be able to get the club through this day," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy. "Then I watched the four McGregor children (participate in the ceremony), and we had all the strength we needed. Their father was a special man and he'll be greatly missed. And in his honor, as I know he would want us to do, we'll move on and we'll find ways. I promise you that."

Winning would be one way to honor the former Colorado State tight end, whose No. 88 jersey will likely remain a fixture in the Rockies' dugout.

Led by Seth Smith's two homers, Colorado (10-9) won 8-4 on Sunday and took two of three from the Marlins. The Rockies have opened the season with three straight series wins at Coors Field for the first time since 2003, when they won their first four.

Colorado, which has won four in a row at home against Arizona, gives the ball to Jason Hammel (0-1, 8.04 ERA), who is off to a rough start after winning a career-high 10 games in 2009.

After getting tagged for eight runs in 1 2/3 innings of a 9-5 loss at Atlanta on April 16, the right-hander did not receive a decision in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to Washington. He went seven innings, surrendering four runs and eight hits, and opponents are batting .355 against him.

"There's flashes of the old feel coming back with the fastball, and that's where it all starts -- with the fastball," said Hammel, 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA in two starts against Arizona.

The Diamondbacks (8-10) counter with Dan Haren (2-1, 5.19), who was more effective hitting than pitching in his last start.

Looking to snap the Diamondbacks' five-game losing streak, Haren allowed seven runs and a season-high nine hits Tuesday against St. Louis, but the veteran right-hander tied a franchise record for pitchers with four hits in the 9-7 win.

It was the first time a pitcher in the majors had four hits since Carlos Zambrano's 4-for-5 effort for the Chicago Cubs on May 23, 2008.

"The team needed a win and I did whatever I could," said Haren, batting .455 this season.

After the Diamondbacks took two of three from the two-time defending NL champion Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend, Haren will try to help the team open a season-high 11-game road trip on a positive note.

Continued hitting from Mark Reynolds and Kelly Johnson would help.

Reynolds is batting .478 with four homers and 13 RBIs in his last six games. Johnson has four homers in the last three games and is already one home run shy of his 2009 total of eight with Atlanta.

Diamondbacks right fielder Justin Upton is questionable after leaving Sunday's game with a left shin bruise.

Rockies right fielder Brad Hawpe was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained left quadriceps.

Colorado has won six of seven against Arizona.