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Rockies, Braves kick off series at Coors Field

May 4, 2012 - 2:54 PM (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rockies eye back-to-back wins this evening when they start a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field.

The Rockies won in thrilling fashion on Wednesday, as Jason Giambi hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday to lift Colorado over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-5, in the finale of a three-game series.

Giambi's heroics came a half-inning after manager Jim Tracy called for an intentional walk to Matt Kemp with two outs, leading to Dee Gordon's game- tying two-run double for the Dodgers.

Jamey Wright (1-1) walked Eric Young and Marco Scutaro to start the bottom of the ninth and Giambi smoked Scott Elbert's one-out fastball over the wall in right-center field to give the Rockies two wins in the series.

"All I was trying to do was get it up in the air in that situation," said Giambi.

Hoping to get the Rockies over .500 tonight will be righty Guillermo Moscoso, who lost his first start on Saturday to the New York Mets. Starting in place of the injured Jeremy Guthrie, Moscoso gave up six runs and nine hits in five innings of that one.

"I need to make quality pitches," Moscoso said. "I was trying to do too much when I got two outs and two strikes. It happened twice, in the third and the fifth, with the same guys up. The rest of the guys in the lineup, I did very well against, but those two guys cost me pretty much the game. ... I just have to make adjustments to the guys that made adjustments to me."

He had been 8-10 last season for the Oakland Athletics.

Atlanta, meanwhile, will counter with righty Tim Hudson, who was victorious in his season debut on Sunday. In his first start following offseason back surgery Hudson beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, limiting them to a two runs and six hits in five innings.

"It felt great to be back out there again," Hudson said. "I was a little shaky at first, but I finished strong and we got the win."

Atlanta was shut down by the Philadelphia Phillies, specifically Joe Blanton, on Thursday, as it managed just three hits in a 4-0 loss. The Braves had erupted for 15 runs and 19 hits just a night earlier.

Braves starter Randall Delgado (2-3) went eight innings, giving up two runs on six hits, but lost his third straight start. He struck out five.

Atlanta was 6-2 against the Rockies last season. Since the start of the 2000 season, the Braves are 29-12 against the Rockies at home, but sport a losing 19-21 record at Coors Field.