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Rox hope for rebound in rubber match with Cubs

Apr 17, 2011 - 2:47 PM (Sports Network) - Alabama-born right-hander Alan Johnson makes his major- league debut today when the Colorado Rockies try to start another win streak in the finale of a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs.

The Rockies, who entered Saturday's game with a major league-best 11-2 record, had won seven in a row before Starlin Castro went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run and three RBI to help the Cubs defeat Colorado, 8-3.

The Cubs had 17 hits, including three from Alfonso Soriano, who homered and drove in a pair to hand the Rockies their first nine- inning loss this season.

Casey Coleman (1-0) allowed one run on four hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings to get credit for the win, while Jason Hammel (1-1) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs on seven hits in his six-inning start.

The 27-year-old Johnson has spent six-plus seasons in the minor leagues, going 56-42 with a 4.55 earned-run average. He made one start at Triple-A Colorado Springs this season and allowed no earned runs in five innings.

The Rockies needed a spot starter because of their doubleheader with the New York Mets on Thursday.

For the Cubs, veteran Ryan Dempster tries to make it two straight wins after he'd dropped his initial two starts of 2011.

The Canadian-born righty was touched for 16 hits and 11 runs in 13 2/3 innings in losses to Pittsburgh and Arizona in his first two starts while walking four batters and striking out 13. He returned to win at Houston in a subsequent start on April 11, scattering six hits and four runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 5-4 defeat of the Astros.

Dempster has made 10 starts and seven relief appearances in his career against the Rockies, going 5-4 with two saves and a hold in 58 1/3 innings while recording a 6.79 ERA.

Colorado took three of five from the Cubs last season.