• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Rockies-Phillies Preview

Jul 26, 2010 - 1:12 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Colorado (51-46) at Philadelphia (51-46), 1:05 p.m. EDT

An 8-2 homestand heading into the All-Star break had the Colorado Rockies feeling great about their chances in the NL West.

After beginning their longest road trip of the season 2-8, they couldn't be feeling much worse.

Colorado tries to avoid falling into an even deeper hole Monday afternoon in Philadelphia, where it'll hope to salvage the four-game series finale by snapping its five-game slide.

The Rockies (51-47) went into the break on a tear, pulling within two games of West-leading San Diego after averaging 7.0 runs during its homestand.

All that momentum has come to a screeching halt to start the second half. Colorado has averaged 3.1 runs in dropping eight of 10 on the road, and a closed-door meeting prior to Sunday's game didn't kick-start the offense. The Rockies failed to add to their 3-2 lead in the seventh despite having the bases loaded with one out following a lengthy rain delay, then gave up the lead in the bottom of the inning en route to a 4-3 loss.

"That's been the general theme of this road trip," manager Jim Tracy told the team's official website. "It's not the first time we've had the opportunity to cash in, change the momentum, take a lead, and we've let the big at-bat get away from us. That's going to show up."

Colorado has dropped to fourth place and trails the Padres by 7 1/2 games.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia (52-46) has won four straight and scored 20 runs in this series. The Phillies have won seven in a row at home.

"It was good to see us play the type of baseball we should be playing," outfielder Jayson Werth told the team's official website, "and win these games and do what we do."

They'll try to stay hot at the plate against Jason Hammel (7-5, 4.23 ERA), who stands in the way of Philadelphia's first four-game sweep of the Rockies. Hammel is 6-1 with a 3.18 ERA at home, but just 1-4 with a 5.79 ERA away from Coors Field.

Hammel has dropped his two starts since the All-Star break, both on the road. He allowed five runs over seven innings Wednesday in a 5-2 loss at Florida.

The right-hander is 1-0 with a 4.82 ERA in two games - one start - against the Phillies. Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez have both homered off Hammel, going a combined 6 for 13.

Ryan Howard is 0 for 4 versus Hammel, but the former NL MVP has been carrying Philadelphia's offense since the All-Star break. Howard on Sunday extended his hitting streak to 11 games, a stretch in which he's batting .372 with five homers and 13 RBIs.

Three of the Phillies' last four starters have lasted at least seven innings and surrendered no more than one run, something Joe Blanton (3-6, 6.03) would love to do Monday. Blanton gave up three runs over seven innings at Wrigley Field in his first start of the second half, then allowed five - three earned - over seven in a 5-1 loss at St. Louis on Wednesday.

The Rockies are the only NL team Blanton has never faced, though Melvin Mora has seen him before. Mora is 5 for 14 with a pair of homers against Blanton.

Colorado expects shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to return from his lengthy stint on the disabled list Tuesday, but for now, it would like to see Carlos Gonzalez emerge from his road slump. The outfielder hit .409 with 14 RBIs during the Rockies' 10-game homestand, but is batting .188 (6 for 32) with two RBIs and 13 strikeouts thus far on the road trip.