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Cubs-Rockies Preview

Jul 31, 2010 - 6:04 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (46-56) at Colorado (52-50), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Hosting the Chicago Cubs could be what the Colorado Rockies need to string together some wins.

Coming off a record-setting effort in the series opener, the Rockies try for a third straight victory Saturday night against the struggling Cubs.

Colorado (53-50) set a major league record with 11 straight hits and had a franchise-high 13 total during a 12-run eighth inning that highlighted its 17-2 win over Chicago on Friday.

The Rockies have totaled 26 runs and 36 hits in consecutive wins after scoring 17 times during a season-high eight-game skid.

"It's crazy. All the offense coming together when we've been slumping is a blessing," said center fielder Dexter Fowler, whose two-run homer was one of his three hits.

Chicago (46-57) is 6-11 at Coors Field since winning its last series there in 2005, and has been outscored 39-12 while losing three in row in Denver.

The Cubs have lost three straight and four of five overall. Their relievers have allowed 23 runs and 25 hits in 8 2-3 innings over the last three games.

"We've (been taking) our lumps lately," manager Lou Piniella said. "We've been giving up runs in bunches."

Carlos Gonzalez had four hits with a homer and two RBIs, while Troy Tulowitzki added three hits for the Rockies. Gonzalez has homered in three straight games while going 8 for 14 during that span. He is 15 for 30 lifetime against the Cubs.

Tulowitzki is 6 for 12 with five RBIs in his last three games, and a lifetime .413 hitter with 23 RBIs in 11 games against the Cubs at Coors.

The Rockies could be in for another big night against Cubs scheduled starter Tom Gorzelanny (6-5, 3.22 ERA), who is 1-2 with a 10.80 ERA against them. In last visit to Coors, Gorzelanny allowed six runs in 1 1-3 innings in an 11-5 loss Aug. 10.

Gorzelanny, however, allowed three runs in six innings of a 6-5 win over St. Louis on Saturday to improve to 4-0 with a 3.42 ERA in July. The left-hander is likely to remain in the rotation even though the club activated Carlos Zambrano from the restricted list Friday.

"There's no reason this young man can't hold down a rotation spot for this organization and pitch well," Piniella told the Cubs' official website. "He's young and he's durable, and he's got the pitches. It's just a question of having the confidence, and I think you're seeing the confidence manifest himself."

Colorado counters with Jason Hammel (7-6, 4.34), who looks to avoid a fourth straight loss.

After going 6-0 with a 2.17 ERA over a nine-start stretch, Hammel is 0-3 with a 5.49 ERA. He allowed five runs in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-4 loss at Philadelphia on Monday.

"I was trying to do a little too much," Hammel told the Rockies' official website. "That's the way things are going right now."

In his only appearance against the Cubs, the right-hander allowed three runs in five innings of an 11-5 win at Coors on Aug. 9.

Tyler Colvin had one of four hits Friday for Chicago, which has been outscored 31-4 during its losing streak. He is batting .320 with four RBIs in his last seven contest.