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Francis looks to reverse Rockies recent struggles

Aug 24, 2007 - 2:37 PM Washington (58-70) at Colorado (64-63) 9:05 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) - Searching for answers after losing three of four home games to the team with the worst record in the National League, the Colorado Rockies aim to regain their home field advantage when they start a three-game series with the Washington Nationals on Friday.

Colorado, which owns a 36-26 record at Coors Field, dropped three of four to the Pittsburgh Pirates at home to fall further back in the wild card race - 4 1/2 back of San Diego (68-58) - and division race - 7 1/2 games behind NL West-leading Arizona (72-56).

In hopes of turning that around, the Rockies will turn to Jeff Francis (13-6, 4.38 ERA), who has enjoyed a great deal of success at home, going 6-0 with a 3.41 ERA in his last nine starts after dropping each of his first three decisions at Coors Field. In Sunday's 4-3 setback against the Dodgers, the lefthander yielded two runs and six hits, striking out seven over six frames. In two lifetime outings against the Nationals, he is 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA.

His counterpart on the mound will be Shaun Hill (3-3, 2.43), who has yet to surrender more than three earned runs in any one of his ten outings this season. On Sunday, he permitted two runs and seven hits over seven innings against the Mets and did not get a decision in a 8-2 loss.

This will be his first appearance against the Rockies.