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Diamondbacks aim to continue domination of Francis, Rockies

Aug 13, 2008 - 10:09 AM Arizona (61-58) at Colorado (53-68) 9:05 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have more than one reason to be thankful they are in the National League West .

The Diamondbacks hope to maintain their hold over the division on Wednesday when they meet the Colorado Rockies.

Arizona is a league-best 30-15 against its division - the best record of any team within its own division - with a great deal of that success coming at the expense of Colorado.

The Diamondbacks are 9-1 against the Rockies in 2008, after getting swept in the NL Championship Series last fall.

At the core of the Rockies' struggles vs. Arizona has been Jeff Francis (3-8, 5.81 ERA), who has posted a 11.25 ERA in losing all three of his starts this season after maintaining a 2.84 ERA in three starts in 2007. The lefthander's disappointing season continued in Thursday's 6-3 setback against Washington after he surrendered five runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings.

While Tuesday's 4-2 win at Coors Field gave Arizona its fourth win here in as many tries this season, it also marked the Diamondback debut of Adam Dunn, who was acquired from Cincinnati for minor league righthander Dallas Buck and two players to be named. He went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.

Even though Doug Davis (4-7, 4.75) hasn't struggled nearly as much as Francis, Arizona will be hoping to get his best start this month after going 0-2 with an 18.00 ERA so far in August. In Friday's 11-6 defeat to Atlanta, the lefthander permitted a season-high seven runs and nine hits with four walks over 4 1/3 frames.