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Surging Rockies, Phillies meet in Game One of NLDS

Oct 3, 2007 - 1:38 PM Colorado at Philadelphia 3:00 pm EDT National League Division Series Game One

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Phillies and the Colorado Rockies put their all into getting in the postseason. Now its time to see who has anything left in the tank.

The Phillies will try to take an early lead when they host the surging Rockies in Wednesday's opener of their best-of-five National League Division Series on Wednesday.

Battling injuries and pitching woes, Philadelphia (89-73) finished the season with an impressive 14-3 record to overpower the New York Mets on the final day of the regular season to win the NL East crown - its first pennant in 14 years.

"We kept fighting all season and we never lost track of our long-term goals," Phillies first baseman and reigning MVP Ryan Howard said. "Getting to the playoffs and winning the division is great. Now, we have to focus on the next set of goals, which is winning this series. We'll take it from there."

Colorado, meanwhile, needed an extra day and some extra innings to make it into the playoffs, defeating the San Diego Padres in a thrilling 13-inning rally at Coors Field on Monday.

The Rockies (90-73) are perhaps the hottest club entering the postseason, winning 14 of 15 contests - highlighted by a major league-best 11-game winning streak - en route to securing their first playoff berth since 1995.

"One thing this team doesn't do is quit and we didn't," Colorado rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. "We easily could have laid down, but we didn't."

Colorado hands the ball to Jeff Francis, who is coming off his best season in the majors with 17 wins. However, the 26-year-old lefthander has had his issues with Philadelphia.

Francis is 1-1 with a lackluster 8.79 ERA in three career starts against the Phillies, who hammered the lefty for eight runs and eight hits in only 3 1/2 innings of a 12-4 loss here on September 13.

"That lineup, it doesn't seem like there's a break," Francis said. "The last time I faced them, (Shane) Victorino wasn't even in the lineup and it still seemed right up to the pitcher's spot, there wasn't a break."

Francis will be making his first career playoff appearance.

"Being my first postseason game, I'll just try to get myself ready for the excitement and the hype and not being surprised," he said. "I know it's going to be there. I've made first starts of the season and things where you might get surprised and the heart rate gets up and surprises you a little bit."

Cole Hamels counters for the Phillies, who are 8-2 in 12 starts when the 6-3 southpaw takes the mound at Citizens Bank Park this season. He has never pitched against Colorado in his career.

The 23-year-old Hamels should give plenty of run support from his teammates especially Howard, who has homered in each of his final four games. The Phillies led the NL with 892 runs.

The series will showcase a pair of MVP contenders in Colorado's Matt Holliday and Jimmy Rollins of Philadelphia.

Holliday captured the NL batting title with a .340 average and drove in 139 runs, while Rollins became the fourth player in history with at least 20 homers, 20 triples, 20 doubles and 20 stolen bases.

The Rockies' Mark Redman will face Philadelphia's Kyle Kendrick in Game Two on Thursday.