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Rockies-Dodgers Preview

May 9, 2010 - 6:40 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Colorado (15-15) at Los Angeles (13-17), 4:10 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rockies haven't won a series over the Los Angeles Dodgers in nearly 21 months.

With Ubaldo Jimenez starting the finale of a three-game set, the Rockies have to like their chances to end that drought.

Jimenez will try to give Colorado that rare series victory, and become the first pitcher in franchise history to get off to a 7-0 start Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

The Rockies (15-15) were 4-14 last season against their NL West rivals, and dropped the opener of this series Friday night. They bounced back quickly by scoring six runs in the first inning en route to an 8-0 victory Saturday.

That gives Colorado an opportunity to win a series over the Dodgers (13-17) for the first time since taking two of three from Aug. 19-21, 2008 in Los Angeles.

To clinch that victory, the Rockies will send out Jimenez (6-0, 0.87 ERA), who had a career-high 13 strikeouts in a 5-2 win in San Diego on Monday.

"He's become such a big-game pitcher, and he always knows where he's at," manager Jim Tracy said. "He's grown so much. He's grown right before our eyes. He's becoming quite a force."

Jimenez's personal 25 1-3 inning scoreless streak that began with his no-hitter April 17 against Atlanta was snapped, but he won his seventh straight regular-season start by allowing a run and four hits over seven innings. That win streak began with a 4-3 win at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 2.

The right-hander gave up one run and two hits over six innings that day, giving him a 2.08 ERA in his past two starts against Los Angeles - both on the road. He was 4-3 with a 6.99 ERA in his previous nine.

Reliever Gabe White is the only other Colorado pitcher to win his first six decisions en route to an 11-2 record in 2000.

Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (1-2, 4.99) will try to prevent Jimenez from reaching that milestone and snap a two-game slide.

In contrast to Jimenez's spectacular outing earlier this week, Kershaw didn't make it out of the second inning in his previous start, an 11-6 loss to visiting Milwaukee on Tuesday.

Kershaw threw 57 pitches and retired only four of 13 batters faced while giving up seven runs and five hits.

"A lot of people tell me that growing up, your character handles adversity," he told the Dodgers' official website. "I'll try to bounce back and have a good one Sunday."

Kershaw is 2-3 with a 4.71 ERA in eight career starts against the Rockies, but he's posted a 1.93 ERA in the past four matchups with only one win to show for it.

If Andre Ethier can continue his red-hot play, he could help Kershaw to another victory and help the Dodgers conclude their homestand at 6-4.

Ethier's 3-for-3 performance Saturday boosted his major league-leading average to .394. He's also tied for the NL lead with 10 homers and has a league-best 32 RBIs.

Ethier is 7 for 26 all-time against Jimenez, while Manny Ramirez is 1 for 12 with six strikeouts.

Ramirez was activated from the disabled list Saturday after missing 14 games with a calf injury, and had one hit in four trips to the plate.