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Rockies-Astros Preview

May 19, 2010 - 6:30 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Colorado (19-19) at Houston (13-25), 8:05 p.m. EDT

After appearing to get back on track with a strong finish to a homestand, the Colorado Rockies couldn't keep their momentum going on the road.

A trip to face the woeful Houston Astros and a matchup with winless Felipe Paulino on Wednesday night might be what the Rockies need to get another run started.

Colorado will try to avoid a season-high fourth straight road defeat as it opens a two-game set against a Houston team that's lost five in a row.

After dropping nine of 15, the Rockies (19-20) won three straight to conclude their most recent homestand, but they opened a seven-game trip by losing twice to Chicago this week. Colorado fell to 8-13 on the road with a 6-2 defeat Tuesday night.

The Rockies scored two runs for the third straight game, with Todd Helton driving them in with his first home run. Manager Jim Tracy is hoping that will ignite his first baseman, a career .338 hitter against Houston (13-26).

"He is going to find his way. Other people need to join him," Tracy said. "You need a two-out hit once in a while. I'm not saying you're going to get one every time, but you need one every once in awhile."

Colorado will look for better results in its first meeting with the NL-worst Astros, who have dropped 16 of 21.

Paulino's turn in the rotation wouldn't appear to give Houston a chance to end those struggles.

The Astros have lost 17 of 18 games in which the right-hander has appeared dating to last July and all seven this season. He's 1-13 with a 6.41 ERA in 15 starts over that span.

Paulino (0-6, 5.72) also comes off his worst outing of 2010, allowing a season-high seven runs in a season-low 4 2-3 innings in an 8-2 loss at San Francisco on Friday night.

Paulino is one of two pitchers to drop his first six decisions this season, and only Pittsburgh's Charlie Morton has more losses with seven.

"Growing pains is a good word," manager Brad Mills said. "The stuff is there. When he gets confidence and is able to throw like that, he's going to be a real good pitcher."

The Astros, owners of the majors' worst offense, have been outscored 27-11 during their losing streak and given Paulino three runs in his last five starts.

Paulino went 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in two starts against the Rockies last season.

Greg Smith (1-2, 6.35) will try to take advantage of that matchup to claim his first win in six starts. The left-hander, who has never faced the Astros, is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in his last four outings.

The Rockies haven't had much luck in Houston, dropping 24 of 32 since the start of the 2000 season. Colorado has lost seven of nine overall to the Astros.

Carlos Gonzalez will try to extend his career-best hitting streak to 13 games for Colorado, which hasn't dropped four straight on the road since Sept. 12-15.