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Rox target series win over Cardinals

May 29, 2011 - 2:37 PM (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rockies can win a series and get back to .500 today when they close out a three-game weekend set with the visiting St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field.

The Rockies edged even in game two of the matchup on Saturday night, as Chris Iannetta knocked in a career-high six runs to back Juan Nicasio's impressive major league debut in a 15-4 rout.

Nicasio (1-0) went seven innings, allowing one unearned run on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts for the Rockies, who snapped a four-game slide with an offensive output of 18 hits.

Iannetta had a pair of two-run homers and finished with four hits while Ryan Spilborghs was also a big part of the offense with four RBI on three hits.

Allen Craig had a two-run single for the Cardinals, who suffered their third loss in eight games.

St. Louis starter Jaime Garcia (5-1) was handed his first loss of the season in a rough outing. He was pounded for 12 runs -- 11 earned -- on 11 hits and four walks with six strikeouts.

The win lifted Colorado within three games of the first-place San Francisco Giants in the National League's West Division. The first-place Cardinals, meanwhile, maintained a 2 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee in the NL Central.

Venezuelan righty Jhoulys Chacin makes his 11th start of the season for Colorado and looks for a third win in four decisions.

Chacin began the year with consecutive defeats of Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Chicago in his initial three starts, but lost two in a row before coming back for a victory at Arizona on May 4.

He beat Philadelphia, 7-1, on May 19 before dropping a 5-2 verdict at home to the Diamondbacks on May 24, allowing five hits and five runs in seven innings.

Chacin picked up a no-decision in one career start against St. Louis.

For the Cardinals, veteran righty Kyle Lohse aims for a third consecutive win and a seventh in 11 starts for 2011.

The California native was beaten by Pittsburgh in his first mound trip of the year on April 4, but has won six of seven since, including wins against Houston and San Diego on May 18 and 23, respectively.

In those victories, Lohse allowed a combined 11 hits and two runs in 16 innings, dropping his season earned run average to 2.08.

He's 1-3 lifetime against the Rockies in seven starts.

The Rockies swept a three-game set at home versus the Cardinals last year, and last night's win was their eighth in their last 10 games at home against St. Louis.