Diamondbacks 3 - 8 Rockies
Final
  for this game

Diamondbacks hope to keep rolling versus Rockies

Sep 6, 2011 - 2:43 PM

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(Sports Network) - Nearing their first National League West title since 2007, the Arizona Diamondbacks can capture their fifth straight series victory with another win tonight over the Colorado Rockies in the middle test of a three- game series from Coors Field.

The Diamondbacks prevailed, 10-7, in Monday's series opener and got a big lift from injury-plagued infielder Geoff Blum, who went 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in just his 10th game of the season. Justin Upton homered and Paul Goldschmidt drove in three runs, as the Diamondbacks remained seven games ahead of San Francisco for the NL West lead.

Wade Miley won his third straight start and was touched for just two runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts over seven innings.

"He pitched good for us out there again," said Arizona manager Kirk Gibson. "He always seems to struggle early, but then he finishes strong and gives us a chance to win."

Arizona has won three straight and 12 of its last 13 games, and is in the midst of playing 22 straight games against division foes.

Josh Collmenter gets the nod for the D'Backs tonight and has won two straight starts and five of his previous eight decisions. The rookie threw six innings of two-run ball in a 4-2 win over the Rockies on Wednesday at Chase Field, improving to 9-8 in 27 games (20 starts) with a 3.18 earned run average.

Collmenter is 2-1 with a 3.26 ERA in four games (3 starts) against the Rockies, but owns just a 1-5 record in 13 road games (10 starts) this season.

Colorado has lost two straight and seven of 10 games, and didn't get much help from starter Esmil Rogers. Rogers dropped his fourth decision in his past five starts as he gave up six runs on eight hits with five walks and two strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.

"I have to figure it out right now," Rogers said on the team's website. "I have to show the Colorado organization that I want to be here, that I can be here. They've given me the opportunity, so I have to do it. I can't say it."

Troy Tulowitzki hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning, while Dexter Fowler went deep twice and finished with three hits in defeat. Veteran first baseman Todd Helton did not play Monday because of a stiff back and could see action Tuesday. Helton is batting .306 with 14 homers this season.

Rockies starter Jason Hammel was back with the club this week following the birth of his first child and will get the start tonight. Hammel was demoted to the bullpen after a rough stint in the rotation, but is back in the mix with Jhoulys Chacin nursing a fever and tonsil inflammation.

"It's another opportunity to prove that I can start," Hammel told the club's website. "I'm just going to look at it as getting some innings, because I know that's what I need to do, and we'll go from there."

Hammel was 3-1 with a 2.63 earned run average in his first six starts, but went 4-11 with a 6.15 ERA over the next 19. He last pitched in relief on Aug. 29 in a 5-1 loss at Arizona and is 7-13 with a 5.15 ERA this season. In 10 career games, seven of which have been starts, against the D'Backs, the righty is 3-3 with a 4.08 ERA. Hammel is only 3-9 at home this season.

Arizona has dominated the 2011 series with the Rockies by a 12-4 margin and has won six straight in the series.






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