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D-Backs' Kennedy tries for first win over Rockies

May 25, 2011 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - Ian Kennedy has been enjoying success on the mound this season, but is still searching for that elusive first win over Colorado.

The Arizona Diamondbacks starter will aim for his sixth win of the season and first against the Rockies tonight in the continuation of a four-game series from Coors Field. In seven career starts against Colorado, Kennedy is 0-1 with a 3.55 earned run average and has recorded a pair of no-decisions already in this season's series.

Kennedy has won two straight starts and a career-high four decisions in a row overall and survived an 8-7 triumph versus Minnesota the last time out on Friday. The right-hander was reached for four runs in 7 2/3 innings to run his record to 5-1 through 10 starts with a 3.24 ERA.

Arizona has been playing well as of late with nine wins in 11 tries, including Tuesday's 5-2 win in the back end of a day-night doubleheader. Kelly Johnson homered and drove in two runs and D'Backs starter Joe Saunders won his first game of the year with eight innings of two-run ball. J.J. Putz closed the door in the ninth for his 13th save.

"It's always good when your starting pitcher throws the ball that way," said Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson.

Gibson's club was hammered, 12-4, in the first game and Josh Collmenter was saddled with the loss for giving up five runs -- two earned -- over 4 1/3 innings. Aaron Heilman was reached for five runs in an inning of work.

The Diamondbacks will also visit Houston for three games on the seven-game road swing, and are a half-game behind Colorado for second place in the crowded NL West standings.

Colorado has dropped four of its last five games and received some bad news in the opener of yesterday's doubleheader, as starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa suffered a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow and is headed for season-ending surgery.

De La Rosa is 5-2 on the season and lasted just 2 1/3 innings on the hill, allowing two runs and three hits. The loss of De La Rosa coupled with the struggles of Ubaldo Jimenez will give the Rockies some issues.

Greg Reynolds got the win by allowing one run over 3 2/3 innings, while Carlos Gonzalez homered twice and finished with four RBI. Seth Smith also went deep for the Rockies, who suffered a 5-2 loss in the nightcap. Jhoulys Chacin, another one of Colorado's reliable starters, was hit for five runs in seven innings to absorb the loss.

The Rockies' bats weren't as hot the second time around despite homers from Jason Giambi and Ty Wigginton. Giambi owns five home runs in his previous five games.

"I thought that early on in the second game we took some good at-bats against [D-backs starter] Joe Saunders," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy.

Colorado will also host St. Louis for three games at Coors Field and will send Jason Hammel to the mound tonight. Hammel is 3-3 with a 3.59 ERA in nine starts, but is winless in his past four trips to the mound (0-2). The righty did not post a decision in last Friday's 7-6 loss at Milwaukee and gave up three runs -- two earned -- in 6 2/3 innings.

Hammel threw seven shutout innings in 3-2 loss at Arizona on May 5 this season for a no-decision and is 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA in seven career games, five of which have been starts, against the Diamondbacks.

Arizona has won four of seven meetings with NL West-rival Colorado this season and is 7-3 in the past 10 encounters between the two ballclubs.