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Orioles return home to face Rockies in interleague play

Jun 8, 2007 - 3:30 PM Colorado (29-31) at Baltimore (28-32) 7:05 pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Baltimore Orioles return to Camden Yards on Friday to begin an interleague series against the Colorado Rockies.

The Orioles come home after going 5-5 on their longest road trip of the season, including a stop at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Baltimore will look to put together its second straight win with Steve Trachsel (4-4, 3.29 ERA) on the mound.

The veteran righthander is looking to rebound from his worst outing of the season, when he made it through only three innings in a 7-6 loss to the Angels on Saturday. Trachsel gave up five runs and five hits with four walks.

The Rockies travel East fresh off a thrilling 7-6 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday. Colorado scored three runs in the ninth, capped off by game-winning single by rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

Jeff Francis (5-4, 3.70 ERA) will make his 13th start of the season. The lefthander is riding a solid stretch, winning his last three starts. He hasn't lost a game since May 2 and has posted a 2.23 ERA in six May starts.

Francis will have to deal with the hot bat of Orioles infielder Aubrey Huff, who had three hits and a pair of RBI in a 9-5 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.

A slumping Jay Gibbons also may have gotten his bat going as he had a pair of hits against the Mariners. Hitless in his previous 22 at-bats, Gibbons had a key single that led to Baltimore's five-run rally in the fifth inning.

Matt Holliday is riding a 15-game hitting streak for the Rockies. He compiled a four-hit game in the win over the Astros that included two doubles and a pair of singles.