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Francis aims to stop Rockies' eight-game skid

Jun 30, 2007 - 12:53 PM Colorado (38-42) at Houston (34-46) 7:05 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Jeff Francis has been the Colorado Rockies' best starter. On Saturday Colorado will lean on the lefthander to put an end to a season-high eight-game losing streak.

Francis (7-5, 3.80 ERA) will look to rebound after suffering through his worst outing of the season. On Monday, the Chicago Cubs lit up Francis for six runs and 10 hits in five inning.

However, prior to that outing the Vancouver native had allowed more than two runs just twice in his last 10 starts. The lefthander will try and help the Rockies avoid their first nine-game losing streak since dropping 10 straight from April 24- May 7, 2005.

Houston has won its last two games on walk-off homers by Mark Loretta and Carlos Lee.

On Friday, Loretta gave the Astros a 9-8 win with a walk-off two-run homer off struggling Colorado closer Brian Fuentes, who has blown four straight saves. A night earlier it was Lee who victimized Fuentes by hitting a walk-off grand slam in an 8-4 victory.

Meanwhile, Jason Jennings (1-2, 3.66), the man whom Francis replaced as the ace in Colorado, takes the mound for Houston.

Jennings will make his first start against his former team after being traded to Houston in the offseason for Jason Hirsh, Willy Taveras and Taylor Buccholz. Jennings, the Rockies' first round pick in 1999, compiled a 58-56 record in six seasons.

The righthander has just one win in his last five starts after allowing three runs and five hits in seven innings in a 6-1 loss to Milwaukee on Monday.