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Rockies need stirling effort out of Marquis

Apr 26, 2009 - 6:15 AM By Matt Beardmore Stats Writer

LA Dodgers (13-5) at Colorado (5-11), 3:10 p.m. EDT

DENVER (AP) -- With 10 losses in its last 12 games, Colorado just needs a win. If he can maintain his dominance over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Jason Marquis could be the one to give the slumping Rockies a much-needed victory.

Marquis looks to bounce back from his worst outing of the season as Colorado tries to salvage the final game of the three-game set Sunday afternoon at Coors Field.

After giving up just three earned runs in his first two starts of the season, Marquis (2-1, 4.26 ERA) was tagged for six runs and nine hits in Monday's 6-3 loss at Arizona. He also served up his first two home runs, including a three-run shot to Miguel Montero in the fifth inning.

"I could have made a pitch in that situation and it would have been a possible different outcome, but I just wasn't real aggressive with the changeup like I wanted to be," Marquis said.

Marquis, though, has enjoyed plenty of success against the Dodgers, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.99 ERA in nine career appearances. The last time he faced the Dodgers, Marquis held them to one unearned run and three hits over 6 1-3 innings, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 3-1 win on June 8.

He takes the mound following Colorado's second straight 6-5 loss to the Dodgers.

The Rockies (5-11) have dropped all five games to Los Angeles (13-5) this season and eight of nine dating to last year.

The Dodgers, winners of 11 of 13, go for their third series sweep of the season.

Second baseman Orlando Hudson extended his hitting streak to a career high-tying 11 games with a fourth-inning double Saturday. He is batting .444 (20-for-45) with a .528 on-base percentage during this stretch.

Hudson is 1-for-12 with a home run lifetime against Marquis.

After manager Joe Torre gave him Friday off following a poor series at Houston, Russell Martin went 2-for-5 and tied a career high with four RBIs in Saturday's win.

"My timing was a little bit off," said Martin, who had just two hits in the three-game set against the Astros. "I felt that I was rushing a little bit at the plate."

Torre sends Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 4.41) to the mound for the series finale, but the Dodgers manager was not pleased with the left-hander's effort his last time out. Kershaw lasted just 4 1-3 innings, giving up six runs and eight hits in an 8-5 loss to Houston on Tuesday.

"He just didn't look comfortable," Torre said. "It looked like he tried to overthrow it, at times."

Kershaw is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two career starts at Coors Field.

Brad Hawpe went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in Saturday's loss. He is batting .354 in 76 career games against the Dodgers.

After drawing a career-high four walks in Friday's 6-5 loss, Troy Tulowitzki went 0-for-4 Saturday as his batting average dipped to .176. He is hitless in his last 16 at-bats.

Manny Ramirez looks to start a new hitting streak after his seven-game run was snapped Saturday. He went 0-for-5 and struck out three times for the first time since May 2 against Tampa Bay while he was still with Boston.

Ramirez is batting .381 with two homers and four RBIs against the Rockies this season, but is 0-for-6 lifetime with two strikeouts versus Marquis.