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Arenado, Rockies shift set to Texas

May 7, 2014 - 2:29 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Nolan Arenado can put his name in the Colorado Rockies history books on Wednesday when the Rockies start the back end of a home-and- home interleague series with the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park.

Arenado extended his hitting streak to 26 games Tuesday with an RBI double in the seventh inning of the Rockies' 12-1 rout. With another hit on Wednesday, he'll match teammate Michael Cuddyer's club record 27-game tear from a year ago.

"I think he's able to relax now," Troy Tulowitzki said of Arenado's improved approach at the plate. "I think before he was putting a little too much pressure on himself. Knowing that he's a good player and that he belongs here has been key."

Carlos Gonzalez went 5-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Tulowitzki went 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice in the shellacking for the Rockies, who have won five of six and eight of their last 10.

Juan Nicasio (4-1) earned the win after pitching five innings, allowing one run on two hits and five walks.

Robbie Ross Jr. (1-3) was charged with the loss after surrendering six runs on 12 hits over 5 1/3 innings for Texas, which has lost seven of nine.

"They can freakin' hit," losing pitcher Robbie Ross Jr. said. "They're swinging hot sticks right now."

Adrian Beltre homered to account for the Rangers' only run.

"Hits are hits. They were swinging the bats," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Hopefully we can get back to Texas and maybe some of those balls that fell in because of our depth out there we can turn into outs and stay in the ballgame."

Hoping for that same kind of run support on Wednesday will be Colorado lefty Jorge De La Rosa, who has won his last three starts. De La Rosa beat the New York Mets on Friday, holding them to three runs and eight hits in six innings, as he improved to 3-3 to go along with a 5.11 ERA.

"That was the problem in the beginning of the season: I didn't have my command and tried to do too much," De La Rosa said. "The last few games, I've tried to be relaxed, have fun and throw quality pitches."

De La Rosa beat the Rangers the only other time he faced them.

Texas, meanwhile, will counter with righty Colby Lewis, who is 2-1 with a 4.22 ERA. Lewis won his second straight decision on Friday in Anaheim, as he limited the Angels to a pair of runs in 5 2/3 innings.

"He had a good changeup and moved the ball around in the zone," Washington said. "It was nice to see him go out there and throw like Colby of old."

Lewis, though, allowed eight runs and 12 hits over four innings in his only other appearance against the Rockies in 2012.

Colorado lost two of three in its last trip to Arlington back in 2012.