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Webb, Francis square off in NLCS Game One

Oct 11, 2007 - 1:33 PM Colorado at Arizona 8:37 pm EDT National League Championship Series Game One

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The World Series is just four wins away for one lucky team.

The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Colorado Rockies in Game One of the National League Championship Series on Thursday.

The similarities between the teams are many, but they begin with pitching staffs that boast an ace and a series of question marks.

On Thursday, both teams will trot out their aces.

Arizona is going with reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb, who handed Colorado its only loss in the last 18 games. Webb bested Francis in a September 28 contest, surrendering two runs in seven innings while inducing 16 groundball outs with his trademark sinker.

"Well, I remember it was us coming home after a big road trip," Francis said of Colorado's last loss. "And a lot of the Rockies fans were real excited. We came home, packed house. Really energetic. Probably was a big game for us, big game for them, and they clinched the division that night when they won. It was a well-played game. I think we lost 4-2.

"And just like I said before, it was one of those games where mistakes get magnified. I made a couple of mistakes, ended up losing the game."

Webb was just as dominant in Arizona's Division Series sweep of the Chicago Cubs, picking up the win in Game One while allowing one run and four hits in seven frames and striking out nine.

"My best stuff, definitely keeping the ball down," Webb said. "You can probably go back to at the end of the game and see how many ground balls I have and see what kind of stuff I had."

He has been sharp in his career against some of the Rockies' best hitters, holding MVP candidate Matt Holliday to just 10-for-41 (.244) and Rookie of the Year candidate Troy Tulowitzki to three hits in 15 at-bats this season.

Lefthanded slugger Brad Hawpe, however, has found success against the 18-game winner, going 13-for-38 (.342) with four homers and 12 RBI.

Colorado's offense, which led the NL with a .280 team average during the regular season, scored 16 runs its three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.

"You knew offensively they were going to be there and be one of the premiere offense clubs," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "They've gotten better defensively and their pitching, the younger guys. They're the total package. Doesn't surprise us, especially the way they played the better part of the last three weeks of the season.

"I don't know that anybody has finished the way they have and have put themselves in the elite teams of all of baseball. It doesn't surprise us, no."

Francis will not be tackling an offense with nearly as much firepower, as the Diamondbacks are the first team since the 1906 Chicago White Sox to finish with the league's best record while also posting the worst batting average.

The Rockies' ace lefthander gave up four runs to Arizona in that September 28th loss, but owns a 7-2 career mark against the division rivals with a 3.54 ERA.

Francis picked up the Game One win in Colorado's NLDS sweep of the Phillies, allowing two runs and four hits in six frames.

He will have to find a way to retire Arizona slugger Conor Jackson, who is 7-for-23 (.304) with four homers and seven RBI lifetime against Francis.

"I think everybody knows Webb's got one of the best sinkers in baseball, along with his curveball and changeup," Francis said of the pitching matchup. "When you add all that up, with his command, it's not a surprise he's the defending Cy Young winner and maybe even the next one. He's proven over the last three years he's one of the best pitchers in baseball.

"As far as me, I don't have anything electric or dominating to light up a radar gun. I just try to command my fastball and change speed and keep hitters off balance. No secrets. It's just trying to keep guys guessing a little bit."