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Rockies look to take edge in series vs. Nationals

Jul 21, 2007 - 1:56 PM Colorado (49-47) at Washington (40-56) 3:55 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Colorado Rockies will try to give a repeat performance against the Washington Nationals when they meet for the third time in a four-game series on Saturday.

Aaron Cook struck out a career-high eight batters over seven innings as Colorado won its fourth game in five with a 3-1 victory over Washington on Friday night.

Rodrigo Lopez (5-2, 4.46 ERA) takes the ball for the Rockies, who fell 5-4 in Thursday's series opener. Lopez was brilliant in his last start, yielding one run and striking out five batters in seven innings for a 2-1 triumph at the Milwaukee Brewers last Saturday.

The righthander is 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA in two lifetime outings against the Nationals. However, Lopez is winless on the road this season.

Washington's Mike Bacsik (2-6, 4.87) is completely opposite of Lopez, as the lefthander goes after his first home win of the season. Bacsik is 0-3 in six games here.

In his last start, the 29-year-old allowed two runs and seven hits through 5 2/3 frames but did not figure into the decision of a 4-3 loss to the Houston Astros on Monday.

Ryan Zimmerman had two hits and an RBI for the Nationals, who had been 4-3 since the All-Star break prior to Friday's setback.