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Braves turn to Hudson to end slide

Apr 10, 2008 - 1:03 PM Atlanta (3-6) at Colorado (4-5) 3:05 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) - The Atlanta Braves try to avoid a four-game series sweep when they visit the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

Tim Hudson (1-0, 3.46 ERA) goes in search of his second straight win after giving up three runs through six innings in an 11-5 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday.

The righthander hasn't fared well at Coors Field, posting a 0-2 record with an eye-opening 13.00 ERA in two starts.

Colorado counters with Jeff Francis (0-1, 7.11), who was smacked around for five runs and 12 hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 7-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.

In five career starts against Atlanta, the lefthander has managed a 3-2 record despite his 6.49 ERA. Francis has also given up five homers with eight walks over that stretch.

The defending National League champion Rockies have been almost unstoppable during this series highlighted with Wednesday's 12-6 victory. Ryan Spilborghs led the charge with four RBI.

"We're hitting. Hopefully we can keep it going," said Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday, who has seven hits in the series. "If we get all of our guys going, we have a good offense. We'll put up a lot of runs and make it hard on other teams."