• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Francis gets clean slate, aims to help Rockies end skid

Apr 5, 2008 - 2:49 PM Arizona (2-2) at Colorado (1-3) 8:05 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- Colorado Rockies ace Jeff Francis got a reprieve in his first start of the season.

Francis will look for better results Saturday when the defending National League champion Rockies host the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Francis, who won a career-best 17 games last season, recorded just seven outs and trailed 5-1 in the third inning Monday against St. Louis before heavy rains postponed the game. He threw 70 pitches and walked four.

"I might be the luckiest guy on the planet today," Francis said. "I guess I should go to the casino tonight."

Francis looked nothing like the pitcher that led the Rockies to their first World Series appearance in franchise history.

For that matter, the Colorado has looked nothing like the team that made a surprise run through the NL last season. The Rockies have lost three straight, including Friday's 8-1 loss to Arizona.

The Rockies were stymied by Micah Owings, who struck out nine and allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Colorado has managed just four runs in the last three games, and things will not get any easier against 2006 Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb (1-0, 3.00).

Webb allowed two runs and three hits in six innings of a 4-2 victory over Cincinnati on Monday.

The last time Francis and Webb faced off was Game One of the 2007 NLCS. Francis got the upper hand, allowing allowed one run and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 5-1 win. Webb allowed four runs and seven hits in just four frames.