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Rockies-Diamondbacks Preview

Jun 3, 2010 - 10:14 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Colorado (28-25) at Arizona (20-34), 9:40 p.m. EDT

Despite being swept on the road by the Colorado Rockies last week, the Arizona Diamondbacks couldn't have imagined things getting this bad.

Mired in a 10-game losing streak and franchise-record 31-inning scoreless stretch, the Diamondbacks open another three-game series with the Rockies, this one at Chase Field, on Friday night.

Arizona (20-34) is suffering through its worst losing streak since July 2004, when it dropped 14 in a row. The Rockies (28-25) contributed to the Diamondbacks' misery last week, dealing them three defeats that gave Arizona four consecutive losses.

The Diamondbacks scored seven runs in that series. Arizona has managed 21 runs during the skid and lost in heartbreaking fashion three times to the Los Angeles Dodgers in their last series.

Arizona dropped two of those games 1-0 in extra innings and lost the opener 5-4 on a game-ending balk. The Diamondbacks' last run came in the second inning of that contest.

"These losses were about as painful as you can get against a big rival of yours," manager A.J. Hinch said after his team completed an 0-9 trip with a 14-inning defeat Wednesday. "Those were three walk-offs. I wouldn't wish this road trip on anybody. ... We need to try to correct it at home, at a place where we get to bat last."

Arizona is 11-12 at home, but has won four of its last five while scoring 41 runs and hitting .318.

Also working in the Diamondbacks' favor is Rockies scheduled starter Aaron Cook (2-3, 4.97 ERA), who has pitched poorly on the road.

The right-hander is 0-3 with a 7.04 ERA in six starts away from home this season and winless in his last nine road starts.

Cook gave up three runs - one earned - in 6 1-3 innings of an 11-3 win over the Dodgers on Saturday. The victory was his first since April 24.

Cook is 5-4 with a 5.21 ERA in 19 starts versus the Diamondbacks but went 0-1 with a 6.84 ERA in the last five.

Catcher Chris Snyder, hitting .160 during the losing streak, is 13 for 22 against Cook.

After winning five straight, Colorado has split its last six games. It took two of three from San Francisco this week, losing the finale 4-1 on Wednesday.

The Rockies recorded four hits, one of them a home run by Troy Tulowitzki in the fourth inning. He also had a single in the sixth.

"Four hits and two were struck well by one guy," manager Jim Tracy said. "You're not going to win too many games if that's all you're going to get offensively."

Tulowitzki has batted .347 in the last 13 games and went 4 for 10 with two homers in the Diamondbacks series.

One of those home runs came against Ian Kennedy (3-3, 3.38), who will take the ball Friday.

The right-hander gave up two runs and struck out six in six innings of a 6-5, 10-inning loss to the Giants on Sunday. He lost to Colorado last Tuesday, giving up three runs over five innings in a 3-2 defeat.