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Dodgers attempt to keep rolling with sweep of Rockies

Sep 14, 2008 - 8:06 AM LA Dodgers (77-71) at Colorado (67-82) 3:05 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- Last year, the Colorado Rockies embarked on a torrid late-season streak to capture a wild-card berth and make a run to the World Series. It's a recipe the Los Angeles Dodgers liked so much, they thought they would try to repeat it.

The surging Los Angeles Dodgers attempt to widen their lead in the National League West on Sunday as they attempt to complete a sweep of the Rockies at Coors Field.

Colorado won 14 of its final 15 regular season games in 2007, including the 163rd game of the season vs. San Diego to grab the final playoff spot in the NL. The Rockies continued their surge into the playoffs, sweeping the Cubs in three games and Diamondbacks in four to make their first "Fall Classic", where they were swept by the Boston Red Sox.

The Dodgers are doing their best to emulate the Rockies' run from a season ago as they have won 12 of their last 13 to reverse a 4 1/2-game deficit in the division to Arizona (72-75), which has gone 3-10 over the same stretch.

The only hiccup Los Angeles has suffered since its winning stretch began on August 30 came when Greg Maddux (7-12, 4.24 ERA) last visited the mound. The 42-year-old righthander surrendered four runs and seven hits over six innings as the Dodgers suffered a 4-0 setback to the Padres on Monday.

Colorado will counter with its best pitcher this season, Aaron Cook (16-9, 4.16), who will look to rebound from consecutive poor outings in an effort to snap the Rockies out of their seven-game slide.

The sinkerballer, 0-1 with a 10.00 ERA in his last two starts, allowed four runs and six hits over six frames in a no-decision as Colorado dropped a 5-4,10-inning decision to Atlanta on Tuesday.