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Jiminez, Rockies visit Cardinals in rubber match

Apr 3, 2008 - 4:22 PM Colorado (1-1) at St Louis (1-1) 1:15 pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - Stretch-run hero Ubaldo Jimenez will make his first start of the season Thursday when the Colorado Rockies visit the St. Louis Cardinals in the rubber match of a three-game set.

Jimenez was called up in July last season and went 3-2 with a 3.30 ERA over his last 10 starts.

In the process, he providing a solid young arm in the rotation as the club surged into the playoffs with wins in 14 of its last 15 games.

The 24-year-old Jimenez posted a 2.25 ERA in three starts in the postseason as the Rockies advanced all the way to the World Series.

The Dominican righthander will be trying to help Colorado avoid its first losing streak of the young season.

The Rockies dropped an 8-3 decision on Wednesday, as Ryan Ludwick drove in three runs and Rick Ankiel homered for the Cardinals.

Aaron Cook allowed four runs in six innings and Luis Vizcaino, who signed as a free agent over the winter, surrendered four runs while retiring just one batter in relief.

St. Louis will send Brad Thompson to the mound on Thursday. The 26-year-old righthander bounced back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen last season, posting an 8-6 record with a 4.73 ERA in 44 appearances - 17 starts.