• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Jones, Cubs look to keep offense rolling vs. Rockies

Aug 10, 2007 - 2:40 PM Chicago Cubs (59-55) at Colorado (59-55) 9:05 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs hope Jacque Jones can continue to help picking up the slack in the absence of Alfonso Soriano.

Jones looks to build on an impressive performance as the Cubs aim for their sixth straight win over the Colorado Rockies in the second game of a four-game series on Friday.

Chicago, which had lost three straight games since Soriano tore his right quadriceps on Sunday, snapped a four-game skid by pounding the Rockies, 10-2, on Thursday.

Jones had a big hand in that, racking up a season-high four hits and four RBI as the Cubs moved to within one-half game of the idle Milwaukee Brewers (60-55) for first place in the National League Central.

Jason Marquis (8-7, 4.39 ERA) hopes Chicago's dominance over Colorado can help him stop a four-game road losing streak. In his last start, Marquis was pounded for five runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings in an 8-3 loss to New York on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Aaron Cook (8-6, 4.16) gets the ball for Colorado, which trails the Arizona Diamondbacks (65-51) by five games in the NL West.

The righthander was reached for five runs - three earned - and a season-high 10 hits but received a no-decision in a 6-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. The 28-year-old is unbeaten in his last five starts.