• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Rockies look to snap out of current malaise against Cubs

Jun 26, 2007 - 1:06 PM Colorado (38-38) at Chicago Cubs (36-39) 8:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - The Colorado Rockies were one of the hottest teams in the major leagues until hitting the road.

The Rockies look to snap a four-game skid when they visit the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in the second game of a three-game set at Wrigley Field.

Colorado was swept by the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, ending a stretch of nine straight series wins, during which ir piled up a 20-7 record. During that streak, the Rockies' pitching was outstanding, holding the opposition to three runs or less 16 times.

Trying to right the ship will be Rodrigo Lopez (4-0, 2.93 ERA). The veteran righthander has been everything for which the Rockies had hoped when they signed him away form the Baltimore Orioles in the offseason.

Lopez has yet to allow more than three earned runs in a start this season, and the Rockies have picked up the win seven of the eight times he has taken the mound.

The Cubs will counter with their own offseason acquisition, Ted Lilly (5-4, 3.90). The veteran lefthander started the season hot, going 4-2 with a 2.69 ERA over his first four starts, but has fallen off since, going 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA over his last six outings.

Colorado will be trying to bounce back from a wild contest on Monday. The Cubs held an 8-3 lead going into the ninth inning before the Rockies put six runs on the board to take the lead.

Chicago didn't quit, scoring two runs in the bottom half to earn the walk-off win.