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Rockies-Cardinals Preview

Oct 2, 2010 - 4:49 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Colorado (83-76) at St. Louis (83-76), 1:10 p.m. EDT

The last time Ubaldo Jimenez faced the St. Louis Cardinals, he became the first player in a decade to win 15 games before the All-Star break.

Pitching against the Cardinals nearly three months later, the Colorado Rockies right-hander is still looking for win No. 20.

Making his final start of the season, Jimenez tries to become the Rockies' first 20-game winner when Colorado continues its four-game series at Busch Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Coming off one of his worst starts of the season - an 11-8 loss to San Francisco on July 3 when he allowed a season-high seven runs - Jimenez (19-8, 2.99 ERA) threw eight innings of one-run ball in a 4-2 victory over St. Louis on July 8 to improve to 15-1. He became the first pitcher to reach 15 wins prior to the break since Toronto's David Wells in 2000.

Jimenez, though, is 4-7 with a 4.15 ERA in 14 starts since becoming the first Rockies pitcher to start an All-Star game.

With his chances of winning the Cy Young Award likely gone with Philadelphia's Roy Halladay leading the NL in wins, complete games and innings, Jimenez is still hoping he can post one more victory.

"Hopefully, I get (to 20)," he said after striking out six in seven innings of Monday's 3-1 loss to Los Angeles.

Jimenez is 1-5 with a 5.82 ERA in his last seven road starts after going 9-1 with a 1.23 ERA in his first 10.

The Rockies (83-77) could use a quality start as they try to avoid their first seven-game skid since dropping eight in a row July 21-28. Colorado has lost 11 of 12 since pulling within one-half game of the NL West lead Sept. 18.

"This isn't the first time I've talked about offensive shortcomings on the road," manager Jim Tracy said after Friday's 3-0 loss. "We didn't beat ourselves, we just didn't score any runs to give ourselves a chance to win. That's all there is to it."

While the Rockies try to snap their six-game road losing streak - the club's longest since a season-high seven-game slide July 21-Aug. 5 - the Cardinals (84-76) will give the ball to Kyle Lohse (4-8, 7.09) as they go for their eighth win in 10 games.

The right-hander, who missed nearly three months this season with a right forearm strain, didn't receive a decision after giving up four runs and 10 hits over six innings of Monday's 6-4 victory over Pittsburgh. It was Lohse's longest start since coming off the disabled list Aug. 15.

He is 1-3 with a 4.78 ERA in six career starts against Colorado.

Albert Pujols (hamstring) and Matt Holliday (arm) could be out of the Cardinals' lineup Saturday afternoon with the quick turnaround from Friday night's game.

Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, the league's top hitter at .336, will likely be out Saturday due to a swollen hand. He has 117 RBIs, one behind Pujols for the NL lead.