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Rockies aim to snap skid in opener with Athletics

Jun 12, 2012 - 3:08 PM (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rockies try to avoid a sixth straight loss this evening when they begin a three-game interleague set with the Oakland Athletics at Coors Field.

Colorado has now dropped seven straight at home in interleague play after a three-game sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this past weekend.

"This is tough to take when you see the kind of effort that is given every single day," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said after Sunday's 10-8 loss. "In order for use to stay true to the way we left spring training, we're going to go out there and whatever circumstances show up, we have to defeat those circumstances."

Colorado is now 0-6 this season versus the AL at Coors.

Pitching has been the Rockies biggest problem this season, as the team owns a major-league worst 5.31 ERA. Over the course of the five-game slide the team has given up 44 runs and the starters have pitched to a horrific 14.64 ERA.

Hoping to improve upon that number tonight will be righty Jeremy Guthrie, who has lost three of his last four starts. Guthrie was awful in Arizona on Tuesday, allowing seven runs and 11 hits in just 3 1/3 innings, as he fell to 3-4, while raising his ERA to 6.35.

"I don't take anything for granted," said Guthrie, who's surrendered 20 runs in his last four starts spanning 21 1/3 frames. "If they kicked me off the team today, it wouldn't surprise me. I haven't earned a spot here. I haven't pitched very well."

Guthrie has faced the A's eight times (7 starts) and is 2-3 against them with a 4.66 ERA.

Oakland, meanwhile, also comes into tonight's set licking its wounds after getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend, culminating with a 4-3 loss on Sunday at Chase Field.

Travis Blackley (0-2) was charged with four runs -- three earned -- on six hits with three walks over 4 2/3 innings in the loss. Brandon Inge and Seth Smith each drove in a run for the Athletics, who have lost four of six.

"You know, it's just one run and we hoped we could scratch one out in the last innings," said Smith. "Our bullpen did a good job holding things, we just fell a little short."

Heading to the hill for the A's tonight will be righty Bartolo Colon, who is 5-6 with a 3.92 ERA. Colon was magnificent in beating the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, as he scattered five hits over eight scoreless innings to nail down just his second win in nine starts.

Colon beat the Rockies the only other time he faced them.

Colorado swept the A's the last time the teams played back in 2009 and has won five of the last six matchups.