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Jimenez returns to Atlanta

Jul 4, 2011 - 2:47 PM (Sports Network) - The last time Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez took the Turner Field mound he tossed the first no-hitter in club history. Jimenez hopes to duplicate that effort tonight in the opener of a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves.

In a 4-0 victory in Atlanta last April 17, Jimenez overcame six walks and struck out seven for the monumental achievement. The right-hander won a career-best 19 games (19-8) a year ago, but is only 3-7 with a 4.35 earned run average in 15 starts this season. He is 2-0 in his past three starts and did not record a decision in last Wednesday's 3-2 loss versus the Chicago White Sox, as he was reached for two runs and four hits in seven innings.

Jimenez, who is 3-2 in his previous five decisions, will face Atlanta for seventh time in his career and is 2-3 with a 3.79 ERA through the initial six starts. He is 2-2 in six road outings in 2011.

Colorado, which will also visit Washington for three games on the upcoming road swing, blew a chance for a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals over the weekend with a 16-8 decision Sunday afternoon at Coors Field. Jason Hammel drew the start for the Rockies and was hammered for six runs -- five earned -- in only 3 2/3 innings for the loss. Matt Belisle allowed six more runs in relief and Clayton Mortensen was tagged for four runs.

"It's one of those days where, if they hit the ball, it's going to find a hole somewhere," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said of the Royals' offensive explosion.

Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez left the game with a wrist injury in the seventh inning after crashing into the center field wall. Gonzalez tied a career-high with six RBI and clubbed a three-run homer for the Rockies, who lost for the sixth time in nine tries. Gonzalez underwent X-rays, which were negative, and is listed as day-to-day.

Mark Ellis continued to impress since joining the Rockies via trade with Oakland last week and ended 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Ellis is batting .533 (8-for-15) with two homers, four doubles and seven RBI in three games with his new club.

Atlanta will try to become just the third team (Phillies, Yankees) in the major leagues with 50 wins tonight. It had a chance for a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend, but dropped a 5-4 decision Sunday after the O's plated two runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Scott Proctor was saddled with the loss for giving up the two go-ahead run over 1 1/3 innings of work, while starter Brandon Beachy was reached for three runs and seven hits in five innings. Eric Hinske had two RBI and both Freddie Freeman and Julio Lugo knocked in runs for the Braves, who are 49-36 on the season and four games behind Philadelphia for the NL East lead.

In the ninth inning, with two outs and a 3-1 count on Braves veteran Chipper Jones, the seven-time All-Star fanned on two consecutive strike calls that appeared to be considerably off the plate.

"I've been here 18 years. I know what balls and strikes are," Jones said. "I know when guys are trying to pitch around me. He (rookie umpire Mark Ripperger) can stare me down all he wants. He made two bad calls."

The Braves lost for only the third time in 13 tries and a had a six-game home winning streak stopped. They went 10-5 in interleague play this season and got two hits and a run scored from All-Star catcher Brian McCann. McCann is hitting .320 with 10 home runs and 22 RBI in his last 27 games.

Streaking Braves starter Tommy Hanson will try to remain hot when he toes the rubber this evening. Hanson has won four straight starts and is 8-1 with a 2.24 earned run average in his last 11 outings, with Atlanta going 9-2 in those contests. Hanson managed to record his ninth win of the season (9-4) in a 5-4 triumph at Seattle last Tuesday, as he fired six innings of three-run ball and struck out eight batters.

Hanson is 4-2 in seven home starts this season and did not record a decision in his only start against Colorado in a 7-6 loss on July 9, 2009, when the right-hander allowed four runs in five innings.

Colorado and Atlanta are meeting for the first time since the Rockies won four of six matchups a year ago. The Rockies have defeated Atlanta seven times over the previous 11 matchups between the two ballclubs.