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Rockies look to start rare winning streak

May 23, 2007 - 3:21 PM Colorado (19-27) at Arizona (25-22) 9:40 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) - Winning games has been hard to come by for the Colorado Rockies. Establishing a winning streak lately has been nearly impossible.

The Rockies meet the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday at Chase Field hoping to build some momentum against their division rival.

Colorado, which has won consecutive games only once during the month of May, looks to change that fact before heading to San Francisco on Friday. The Rockies benefited from holding the Diamondbacks to one run on Tuesday, the lowest total this season for a team that has allowed the third-most runs in the majors (241).

Rookie Troy Tulowitzki doubled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning as Colorado captured a 3-1 victory.

If there is any pitcher that can help the Rockies repeat the impressive defensive showing, it is Jeff Francis (2-4, 4.60 ERA).

The 26-year-old lefthander looks to continue a strong three-start stretch, where he has yielded five runs in his last 22 1/3 innings. In the month of May, Francis is carrying a 2.73 ERA, as opposed to the 6.52 ERA from April.

The ninth overall pick in the 2002, Francis allowed one run and tied a season high with six strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings, but did not factor into a 5-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals in his last start on Friday.

Francis has succeeded against the Diamondbacks in the past, as his six wins in 12 lifetime starts are the most he has against any opponent.

The Diamondbacks will counter with Doug Davis (2-5, 3.71), who has struggled with his control. The lefthander has walked 29 batters - the fourth-highest total in the National League.

In his last start, Davis was rocked in an 11-5 loss at Pittsburgh, giving up season highs in hits (10) and runs (7) in 4 2/3 innings.

Davis is 2-2 with a 3.13 ERA in four career starts against the Rockies.