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Rockies-Braves Preview

May 21, 2009 - 4:27 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Colorado (15-23) at Atlanta (19-19), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Facing one of the worst pitching staffs in the NL certainly has helped rejuvenate the Atlanta Braves' bats.

They'll attempt to continue that offensive surge without red-hot Omar Infante and beat the Colorado Rockies for a third consecutive time on Thursday night when the clubs conclude a four-game set.

The Braves (20-19) opened this series by getting five hits in Monday's 5-1 loss to Colorado (15-24). That came two days after being held to seven in a 12-0 loss to Arizona.

Atlanta regrouped from those two defeats by rapping out 13 hits in an 8-1 win over the Rockies on Tuesday before scoring a season-high nine runs in the fourth inning to power Wednesday's 12-4 victory.

The Braves have won six of the last seven meetings with the Rockies, hitting .328 while outscoring them 50-24. They hope to continue that production against a Colorado pitching staff that ranks among the worst in the league with a 4.88 ERA.

Atlanta, though, will be without Infante, who suffered a broken left hand in the sixth inning when he was hit by a pitch from Manny Corpas.

The leadoff hitter, who had two hits and an RBI before the injury, will be evaluated Thursday and could miss six to eight weeks. He's 6 for 15 over the last four games and hitting .349.

"It's a huge blow," Braves manager Bobby Cox said of Infante, who has played second base, third, shortstop and the outfield. "He's been on fire the whole year. He can play several positions and he can play them well."

Infante's absence likely means more playing time for Kelly Johnson, who's been splitting time with Infante at second base.

Johnson, though, is hitting .239 with three homers and 11 RBIs after posting a career-high .287 average with 12 homers and 69 RBIs last year. He went 0 for 2 after replacing Infante on Wednesday, one night after collecting three hits.

The Braves are scheduled to give Kris Medlen his major league debut after an ineffective Jo-Jo Reyes was moved to the bullpen.

Medlen, expected to be called up prior to Thursday's contest, went 5-0 with a 0.96 ERA in eight games - six starts - at Triple-A Gwinnett. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up only 19 hits while striking out 44 in 37 1-3 innings, helping him earn the promotion ahead of Tommy Hanson, one of the Braves' top prospects.

The Rockies, losers of six of their last eight, will give the ball to Aaron Cook (2-1, 5.71 ERA), who is looking to rebound from a rough start that ended early due to weather.

The right-hander allowed four runs and four hits in 1 2-3 innings before a 1-hour, 47-minute rain delay forced him out of a 7-4 loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday. It was the first time in five starts that he failed to reach the sixth inning.

"It was kind of bad," said Cook, who also had a stiff back while not getting a decision in his shortest outing of the season. "I feel like I didn't even play (Saturday), and I'm charged four runs for it. The worst part is we lost the game."

Despite the sub-par performance, Cook is still 2-0 with a 3.77 ERA over his last five starts.

Cook is 0-1 with a 5.04 ERA in nine games - seven starts - against the Braves. He had no record and a 3.46 ERA in two starts against them last year.