• Preview
• Bleachers

Rockies go for sweep of Nationals

Aug 17, 2008 - 6:37 AM Colorado (56-69) at Washington (44-80) 1:35 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Colorado Rockies went the entire first half of the season without sweeping a road series. They will look to accomplish the feat for the second time in less than a month when they take on the Washington Nationals on Sunday.

Colorado, which owns the second-worst road record in baseball (22-40), swept the Cincinnati Reds in a three-game series July 25-27. The Nationals are the worst road team in the major leagues (21-42).

The Rockies send road-warrior Aaron Cook (14-8, 3.87) to the mound. The righthander, who is the only starting pitcher on the Rockies' staff with a winning record on the road (8-3), is looking to snap a personal two-game losing streak.

Cook, a first-time All-Star, was roughed up for six runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings during an 8-3 loss to the San Diego Padres on August 9.

He missed his last start because of stiffness in his lower back.

The Nationals are in the midst of their third nine-game losing streak and will turn to Odalis Perez (5-8, 4.12). The lefthander has pitched well of late, posting three consecutive quality starts. In 11 home starts, Perez boasts a 2.50 ERA, but owns a 1-4 record.

A 10th straight loss would be the longest losing streak since the franchise moved to Washington from Montreal in 2005.