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Rockies happy to be home

Jul 18, 2008 - 10:10 AM Pittsburgh (44-51) at Colorado (40-57) 9:05 p.m. EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- All the Colorado Rockies needed to get back on track was to return home.

One day after snapping a four-game losing streak, the Rockies look to build momentum on Friday, when they continue their four-game series against the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates.

Colorado had scored a total of just two runs en route to dropping four straight games on the road prior to the All-Star break. However, the Rockies bounced back upon returning to Coors Field, posting a 5-3 victory over the Pirates in the series opener on Thursday.

With the win, Colorado improved to 6-1 at home this month, scoring 58 runs and batting .304 during those seven games in the Mile High State.

Chris Iannetta has played particularly well at home of late, homering in each of his last three games there while driving in nine runs. The 25-year-old catcher stroked a two-run blast on Thursday with a bat he had cracked in his previous at-bat.

"Not everybody can break a bat and hit a home run. I tip my hat to him," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "He is starting to realize his strengths, and he is also starting to realize what happens when he gets out."

Iannetta looks to continue his offensive exploits against lefthander Ian Snell (3-7, 5.92 ERA), who will try and end the Pirates' four-game road losing streak when he takes the mound on Friday.

Glendon Rusch (2-3, 6.25) goes for his second straight win for the Rockies. Rusch surrendered only one run and five hits in six innings while striking out four en route to an 8-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on July 9.