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Phillies-Rockies Preview

May 10, 2010 - 2:13 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Philadelphia (18-12) at Colorado (15-15), 8:40 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rockies thought they had done enough to take the Philadelphia Phillies to a decisive fifth game in last season's NL division series, but Huston Street's ninth-inning implosion sent them home.

That wasn't the only series Colorado has lost to the two-time reigning NL champions lately, and the visiting Phillies will look for a leg up in winning their sixth straight series against the Rockies as the teams meet for the first time since October on Monday night.

Colorado (15-16) swept Philadelphia in the 2007 NLDS on its way to the World Series, but the Phillies returned the favor in four games last October. The Rockies held a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning of Game 4 at home, but Street allowed three runs and the Phillies won 5-4.

So far in 2010, only Philadelphia (19-12) looks like it might be headed back to the postseason. The Phillies got homers from Placido Polanco, Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino in a 5-3 victory over Atlanta on Sunday, helping them conclude a 7-3 homestand.

"We're starting to hit stride a little bit," Werth told the team's official website after hitting his 100th career home run. "This was obviously a good homestand, some good things that we can take away. We've got a long way to go."

Werth, who's 15 for 35 (.429) with four homers and 14 RBIs in his last nine regular-season games against the Rockies, has played a big part in the Phillies' rise to first place in the NL East. He was 15 for 36 on the homestand with four homers and 12 RBIs, and leads the team with a .349 average and 26 RBIs.

In addition to the NLDS victory, Philadelphia has taken all four regular-season series with Colorado over the last two seasons, outscoring it 81-49 in winning nine of 12.

Kyle Kendrick (1-1, 5.91 ERA) has recorded one of those victories, yielding two runs over 7 1-3 innings in a 7-4 home win May 27, 2008, and he'll be heading to Coors Field with confidence.

After going 0-1 with a 6.71 ERA in five April starts, Kendrick tossed seven impressive innings in a 4-0 win over St. Louis on Wednesday.

"He had rhythm and tempo and he had command," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He pitched good."

The Rockies have alternated wins and losses in their last six games, completing a 4-5 road trip with an ugly offensive performance Sunday. Colorado mustered four hits against Los Angeles, losing 2-0 despite another fine start from emerging ace Ubaldo Jimenez.

The Rockies also lost shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in the fifth inning to a right quadriceps strain. He's listed as day-to-day, but with a history of quad injuries, Tulowitzki may be forced to undergo an MRI.

"It was kind of precautionary to come out, but at the same time I think it was the right decision," he told the Rockies' official website.

Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, leading the Rockies with 25 RBIs, will be away from the team until Tuesday to attend his uncle's funeral, making it even more imperative that Greg Smith (1-2, 6.35) delivers a good start.

The left-hander gave up six runs in an inning against Arizona on April 28 but pitched better in San Diego on Tuesday. Though he walked five in five innings, Smith gave up one run and didn't receive a decision in a 3-2 loss.

Smith gave up four runs over 5 2-3 innings in his only appearance against the Phillies, a 4-0 loss June 25, 2008, with Oakland.