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Rockies-Braves Preview

May 18, 2009 - 3:34 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Colorado (14-21) at Atlanta (18-18), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Braves have the right guy on the mound to help them bounce back from their worst loss of the season.

Derek Lowe tries for a fifth straight victory Monday night when the Braves open a four-game home series against the struggling Colorado Rockies, who have lost five straight at Turner Field.

Atlanta (18-18) lost 12-0 to Arizona on Saturday for just its third loss in 10 games, but also suffered its worst shutout defeat since a 13-0 rout by Arizona on May 20, 2006. Sunday's series finale with the Diamondbacks was postponed by rain.

"It happens," Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur said. "Those are games you're going to have every year and you just kind of do it and move on. I don't think there's any reason to panic about that or get all bent out of shape.

"We'll be back at it and ready to go."

Having Lowe (5-1, 3.80 ERA) on the mound should help give the Braves a chance to leave that defeat in the past.

Lowe allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings of an 8-3 win over the New York Mets last Monday, one start after giving up a season-high six runs in five innings of an 8-6 victory at Florida on May 6.

In his first season with Atlanta, the 35-year-old Lowe has not lost since April 20 at Washington.

"He has been good all year," manager Bobby Cox told the Braves' official Web site

Lowe is 7-6 with a 4.70 ERA in 16 starts against Colorado and has allowed two runs over his last two outings - both wins - against the Rockies (14-22), who have lost two in a row and four of their last five overall.

Colorado is 3-14 at Turner Field since the start of the 2003 season.

On Sunday, Brad Hawpe singled and drove in a run to raise his average to .358, but Colorado blew a three-run lead by allowing 10 runs in the seventh inning of an 11-4 loss to the Pirates.

"Everything just kind of broke loose," said Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, whose team fell to 7-12 away from home.

One hit shy of 2,000 for his career, Todd Helton is expected to be in Colorado's lineup after being given Sunday off. Helton is batting .347 on the season and .361 (13 for 36) with a homer versus Lowe.

"He's playing more than I anticipated him being able to play and he's playing at a high level," Hurdle told the Rockies' official Web site of the 35-year-old Helton, who was plagued by back problems in 2008."

Former Brave Jason Marquis (4-3, 5.40) looks to avoid a third straight loss for Colorado in this contest.

In his worst outing of the season, Marquis gave up a season-high nine runs and 10 hits in 3 2-3 innings of a 15-11 loss to Houston on Wednesday.

"It was just one of those nights," said the right-hander, who has allowed 14 earned runs in 9 2-3 innings of his last two starts.

Marquis is 1-3 with an 11.45 ERA in five starts against the Braves.

Atlanta's Chipper Jones - 7 for 14 in his last four games - is 4 for 8 with three home runs against Marquis. The six-time All-Star is batting .455 (15 for 33) with two homers and eight RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak against Colorado.