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Buchholz makes spot start as Rockies visit Pirates

Jul 16, 2007 - 1:30 PM Colorado (45-46) at Pittsburgh (40-51) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Taylor Buchholz will make a spot start for the Colorado Rockies on Monday as they visit the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series.

Buchholz (4-3, 4.65 ERA) has been working out of the bullpen but is forced to make a start because Jason Hirsh is on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle.

The 25-year-old Buchholz has been stellar in relief, posting a 0.82 ERA in seven appearances since moving to the bullpen in June.

In his last start on June 1, Buchholz, who has made eight starts this season, allowed four runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings in a 4-2 loss to Cincinnati.

Colorado has been struggling with three losses in its last four games, including a pair of heartbreaking one-run losses to Milwaukee over the weekend.

On Saturday, Tony Graffanino hit a pinch-hit walk-off single and on Sunday, Kevin Mench hit a pinch-hit go-ahead triple in a 4-3 win.

As for the Pirates, they were swept by the Atlanta Braves over the weekend and scored just six runs in the three games.

John Van Benschoten (0-3, 5.40) takes the mound Monday in search of his first win of the season.

The righthander, who has made five starts this season, is coming off a horrendous outing. Van Benschoten failed to make it out of the third inning, allowing five runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings against Chicago on July 7.