GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: COLORADO (0-0) at ARIZONA (0-0)

NL: COLORADO (0-0) at ARIZONA (0-0)

<h3>Webb, Francis square off in NLCS Game One</h3>

<div class="pre">Colorado at Arizona 8:37 pm EDT</div><div class="pre">National League Championship Series Game One</div>

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The World Series is just four wins away forone lucky team.


The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Colorado Rockies in Game Oneof the National League Championship Series on Thursday.

The similarities between the teams are many, but they begin withpitching staffs that boast an ace and a series of questionmarks.


On Thursday, both teams will trot out their aces.


Arizona is going with reigning NL Cy Young Award winner BrandonWebb, who handed Colorado its only loss in the last 18 games.Webb bested Francis in a September 28 contest, surrendering tworuns in seven innings while inducing 16 groundball outs with histrademark sinker.


"Well, I remember it was us coming home after a big road trip,"Francis said of Colorado's last loss. "And a lot of the Rockiesfans were real excited. We came home, packed house. Reallyenergetic. Probably was a big game for us, big game for them,and they clinched the division that night when they won. It wasa well-played game. I think we lost 4-2.


"And just like I said before, it was one of those games wheremistakes get magnified. I made a couple of mistakes, ended uplosing the game."


Webb was just as dominant in Arizona's Division Series sweep ofthe Chicago Cubs, picking up the win in Game One while allowingone run and four hits in seven frames and striking out nine.

"My best stuff, definitely keeping the ball down," Webb said."You can probably go back to at the end of the game and see howmany ground balls I have and see what kind of stuff I had."

He has been sharp in his career against some of the Rockies'best hitters, holding MVP candidate Matt Holliday to just10-for-41 (.244) and Rookie of the Year candidate TroyTulowitzki to three hits in 15 at-bats this season.

Lefthanded slugger Brad Hawpe, however, has found successagainst the 18-game winner, going 13-for-38 (.342) with fourhomers and 12 RBI.


Colorado's offense, which led the NL with a .280 team averageduring the regular season, scored 16 runs its three-game sweepof the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.


"You knew offensively they were going to be there and be one ofthe premiere offense clubs," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said."They've gotten better defensively and their pitching, theyounger guys. They're the total package. Doesn't surprise us,especially the way they played the better part of the last threeweeks of the season.


"I don't know that anybody has finished the way they have andhave put themselves in the elite teams of all of baseball. Itdoesn't surprise us, no."


Francis will not be tackling an offense with nearly as muchfirepower, as the Diamondbacks are the first team since the 1906Chicago White Sox to finish with the league's best record whilealso posting the worst batting average.


The Rockies' ace lefthander gave up four runs to Arizona in thatSeptember 28th loss, but owns a 7-2 career mark against thedivision rivals with a 3.54 ERA.


Francis picked up the Game One win in Colorado's NLDS sweep ofthe Phillies, allowing two runs and four hits in six frames.

He will have to find a way to retire Arizona slugger ConorJackson, who is 7-for-23 (.304) with four homers and seven RBIlifetime against Francis.


"I think everybody knows Webb's got one of the best sinkers inbaseball, along with his curveball and changeup," Francis saidof the pitching matchup. "When you add all that up, with hiscommand, it's not a surprise he's the defending Cy Young winnerand maybe even the next one. He's proven over the last threeyears he's one of the best pitchers in baseball.


"As far as me, I don't have anything electric or dominating tolight up a radar gun. I just try to command my fastball andchange speed and keep hitters off balance. No secrets. It'sjust trying to keep guys guessing a little bit."

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">COLORADO AT ARIZONA -- LINEUPS

COLORADO ARIZONA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Willy Taveras CF .000 0 0 Chris Young CF .000 0 0
Kaz Matsui 2B .000 0 0 Stephen Drew SS .000 0 0
Matt Holliday LF .000 0 0 Eric Byrnes LF .000 0 0
Todd Helton 1B .000 0 0 Conor Jackson 1B .000 0 0
Garrett Atkins 3B .000 0 0 Mark Reynolds 3B .000 0 0
Brad Hawpe RF .000 0 0 Chris Snyder C .000 0 0
Troy Tulowitzki SS .000 0 0 Justin Upton RF .000 0 0
Yorvit Torrealba C .000 0 0 Augie Ojeda 2B .000 0 0
Jeff Francis LHP .000 0 0 Brandon Webb RHP .000 0 0
(NO RECORD) (NO RECORD)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA
WARMUPS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS (NO RECORD)
ARI - BRANDON WEBB (NO RECORD)

UMPIRES: HP - TIM MCCLELLAND
1B - MARK WEGNER
2B - LARRY VANOVER
3B - TOM HALLION
LF - MARK CARLSON
RF - JIM JOYCE

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA
STARTING BATS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS AND YORVIT TORREALBA
ARI - BRANDON WEBB AND CHRIS SNYDER

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: W TAVERAS (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
K MATSUI (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
M HOLLIDAY (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 0 0
ARIZONA 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: C YOUNG (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
S DREW (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
E BYRNES (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS ARIZONA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Taveras cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
T Helton 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G Atkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Y Torrealba c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S Drew ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
E Byrnes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Jackson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Reynolds 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Upton rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Ojeda 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 0 -- 0
ARIZONA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ###

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: B Webb 12-8. Ground balls-fly balls: B Webb 1-0. Batters
faced: B Webb 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Mcclelland. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Tom
Hallion. LF--Angel Hernandez. RF--Jim Joyce.

Weather: 93 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
ARI - BRANDON WEBB</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY ERIC BYRNES SCORED STEPHEN DREW.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E BYRNES ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 0
ARIZONA 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: C JACKSON (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 0 0
ARIZONA 1 1 2 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: T HELTON (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
G ATKINS (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
B HAWPE (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS ARIZONA (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Taveras cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
T Helton 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G Atkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Y Torrealba c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S Drew ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
E Byrnes lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1.000
C Jackson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
M Reynolds 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Upton rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Ojeda 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 2

BATTING: 2B - E Byrnes (1, J Francis). RBI - E Byrnes (1). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Reynolds 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 0 -- 0
ARIZONA - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 9.00

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: J Francis 12-8; B Webb 12-8. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Francis 0-3; B Webb 1-0. Batters faced: J Francis 5; B Webb 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Mcclelland. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Tom
Hallion. LF--Angel Hernandez. RF--Jim Joyce.

Weather: 93 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA - SCORING UPDATE
TROY TULOWITZKI HIT INTO DOUBLE PLAY SCORING TODD HELTON.

SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, G ATKINS ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 1
ARIZONA 1 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: Y TORREALBA (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 1 1 2 0
ARIZONA 1 1 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: C SNYDER (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
J UPTON (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
A OJEDA (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">COLORADO (1) VS ARIZONA (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Taveras cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
T Helton 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
G Atkins 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000
T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
Y Torrealba c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 7 1 2 0 1 3 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Y Torrealba 1. GIDP - T
Tulowitzki. Team LOB - 1.


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S Drew ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
E Byrnes lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1.000
C Jackson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
M Reynolds 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Upton rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Ojeda 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 2

BATTING: 2B - E Byrnes (1, J Francis). RBI - E Byrnes (1). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Reynolds 1. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (S Drew-A Ojeda-C Jackson).


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 01 -- 1
ARIZONA - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 9.00

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 2 2 1 1 1 3 0 4.50

Pitches-strikes: J Francis 12-8; B Webb 35-21. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Francis 0-3; B Webb 3-0. Batters faced: J Francis 5; B Webb 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Mcclelland. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Tom
Hallion. LF--Angel Hernandez. RF--Jim Joyce.

Weather: 93 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 1 1 2 0
ARIZONA 1 0 1 3 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: J FRANCIS (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
W TAVERAS (.000, 0-FOR-1)
K MATSUI (.000, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">COLORADO (1) VS ARIZONA (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Taveras cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
T Helton 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
G Atkins 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000
T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
Y Torrealba c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 7 1 2 0 1 3 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Y Torrealba 1. GIDP - T
Tulowitzki. Team LOB - 1.


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S Drew ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
E Byrnes lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1.000
C Jackson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
M Reynolds 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
C Snyder c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
J Upton rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Ojeda 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
B Webb p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 2 3

BATTING: 2B - E Byrnes (1, J Francis). RBI - E Byrnes (1). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Reynolds 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (S Drew-A Ojeda-C Jackson).


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 01 -- 1
ARIZONA - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 2 3 1 1 0 2 0 4.50

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 2 2 1 1 1 3 0 4.50

Pitches-strikes: J Francis 34-21; B Webb 35-21. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Francis 1-3; B Webb 3-0. Batters faced: J Francis 9; B Webb 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Mcclelland. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Tom
Hallion. LF--Angel Hernandez. RF--Jim Joyce.

Weather: 93 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY KAZ MATSUI SCORED WILLY TAVERAS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, K MATSUI ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 2
ARIZONA 1 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: M HOLLIDAY (.000, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BRAD HAWPE SCORED KAZ MATSUI AND MATT HOLLIDAY.

SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, B HAWPE ON FIRST, G ATKINS ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 4
ARIZONA 1 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: T TULOWITZKI (.000, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 1 3 4 6 0
ARIZONA 1 0 1 3 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: C YOUNG (.000, 0-FOR-1)
S DREW (1.000, 1-FOR-1)
E BYRNES (1.000, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">COLORADO (4) VS ARIZONA (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Taveras cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .500
K Matsui 2b 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 .500
M Holliday lf 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 .500
T Helton 1b 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .500
G Atkins 3b 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1.000
B Hawpe rf 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 1.000
T Tulowitzki ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .000
Y Torrealba c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
J Francis p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 14 4 6 3 2 3 6

BATTING: RBI - K Matsui (1), B Hawpe 2 (2). 2-out RBI - B Hawpe 2. Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - Y Torrealba 1, T Tulowitzki 1. GIDP - T
Tulowitzki. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - W Taveras (1, 2nd base off B Webb/C Snyder).


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S Drew ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
E Byrnes lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1.000
C Jackson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
M Reynolds 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
C Snyder c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
J Upton rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Ojeda 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
B Webb p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 2 3

BATTING: 2B - E Byrnes (1, J Francis). RBI - E Byrnes (1). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Reynolds 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (S Drew-A Ojeda-C Jackson).


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 013 -- 4
ARIZONA - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 2 3 1 1 0 2 0 4.50

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 3 6 4 4 2 3 0 12.00

WP - B Webb. Pitches-strikes: J Francis 34-21; B Webb 61-37. Ground balls-fly
balls: J Francis 1-3; B Webb 5-1. Batters faced: J Francis 9; B Webb 16.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Mcclelland. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Tom
Hallion. LF--Angel Hernandez. RF--Jim Joyce.

Weather: 93 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, in from center.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 1 3 4 6 0
ARIZONA 1 0 0 1 3 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: Y TORREALBA (.000, 0-FOR-1)
J FRANCIS (.000, 0-FOR-1)
W TAVERAS (.500, 1-FOR-2)</div>