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Haren seeking first win of the season

Apr 22, 2009 - 6:47 AM By Alan Ferguson Stats Writer

Colorado (4-8) at Arizona (5-8), 3:40 p.m. EDT

PHOENIX (AP) -- Through little fault of his own, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren has a dubious piece of history.

Despite three stellar efforts, Haren hasn't earned a victory this season, and his frustrations boiled over in his previous start. The right-hander will attempt to break his skid in Wednesday's finale against the visiting Colorado Rockies, who dealt Haren his first defeat this season.

Following a 2-0 loss Friday night in San Francisco, Haren (0-3, 1.89 ERA) became the second major league pitcher since 1983 to lose his first three starts despite an ERA below 2.00. Juan Cruz had a 1.80 ERA in 2002 in three straight losses for the Chicago Cubs, and went 0-5 with a 2.81 ERA to begin the season.

Haren allowed 10 runs in winning three of four starts last season against Colorado but might need a shutout against the Rockies to break his losing streak. While he's given up four runs this season, the right-hander has received one run of support with none in a 3-0 home defeat April 7 to Colorado.

After allowing one run Friday, Haren was pulled in the top of the seventh for a pinch hitter, and slammed his helmet and bat as he entered the dugout.

"I wasn't happy to be coming out of the game," he told the team's official Web site. "I'm very frustrated. I'm 0-3, so obviously I'm not happy. No one here is happy. I'm not going to sugarcoat it and tell you guys that, 'Oh well, I'll get them next time.' I'm 0-3, and that doesn't feel good."

Arizona (5-9) scored two runs while dropping two of three to the Giants, but has plated six runs in the first five innings in both games against Colorado. The Diamondbacks took Monday night's series opener 6-3, but their bullpen faltered in a 9-6 loss Tuesday night by giving up six runs over the final four innings.

Arizona has followed each win with a loss and is closing in on the franchise's longest stretch without consecutive victories to start a season -- 17 games in 1998.

In snapping a four-game slide and winning for the second time in nine contests, the Rockies (5-8) had a season-high 15 hits, with Todd Helton and Garrett Atkins collecting three apiece. Helton entered the night hitting .231 -- 97 points below his career average, but singled twice and smacked his first home run -- a two-run shot off Jon Rauch in the eighth.

"I've always believed he was going to hit. He's just one of those guys, he was born to hit," Hurdle said of Helton, who boosted his average to .273. "This is the kind of game you're looking for to get him off and running."

Hurdle will look to Jorge De La Rosa (0-1, 4.50 ERA), who comes off one of the best starts of his career. De La Rosa pitched 5 1-3 scoreless innings Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers and departed with a 3-0 lead after walking two batters in the sixth before the Dodgers rallied for a 4-3 win.

The left-hander recorded his first career win against the Diamondbacks on Sept. 19, giving up one run on three hits over six innings. He is 1-1 with a 2.53 ERA in seven lifetime appearances against Arizona -- three starts.

Colorado is already 4-6 on the road, with two of the wins over Arizona.