GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: COLORADO (38-42) at HOUSTON (34-46)

NL: COLORADO (38-42) at HOUSTON (34-46)

<h3>Francis aims to stop Rockies' eight-game skid</h3>



<div class="pre">Colorado (38-42) at Houston (34-46) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Jeff Francis has been the Colorado Rockies'best starter. On Saturday Colorado will lean on the lefthanderto put an end to a season-high eight-game losing streak.

Francis (7-5, 3.80 ERA) will look to rebound after sufferingthrough his worst outing of the season. On Monday, the ChicagoCubs lit up Francis for six runs and 10 hits in five inning.

However, prior to that outing the Vancouver native had allowedmore than two runs just twice in his last 10 starts. Thelefthander will try and help the Rockies avoid their firstnine-game losing streak since dropping 10 straight from April24- May 7, 2005.

Houston has won its last two games on walk-off homers by MarkLoretta and Carlos Lee.

On Friday, Loretta gave the Astros a 9-8 win with a walk-offtwo-run homer off struggling Colorado closer Brian Fuentes, whohas blown four straight saves. A night earlier it was Lee whovictimized Fuentes by hitting a walk-off grand slam in an 8-4victory.

Meanwhile, Jason Jennings (1-2, 3.66), the man whom Francisreplaced as the ace in Colorado, takes the mound for Houston.

Jennings will make his first start against his former team afterbeing traded to Houston in the offseason for Jason Hirsh, WillyTaveras and Taylor Buccholz. Jennings, the Rockies' first roundpick in 1999, compiled a 58-56 record in six seasons.

The righthander has just one win in his last five starts afterallowing three runs and five hits in seven innings in a 6-1 lossto Milwaukee on Monday.

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

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

COLORADO HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Ryan Spilborghs CF .304 3 18 Craig Biggio 2B .247 5 27
Kaz Matsui 2B .294 2 18 Hunter Pence CF .336 8 35
Matt Holliday LF .348 13 61 Lance Berkman 1B .262 13 49
Todd Helton 1B .315 7 40 Carlos Lee LF .295 15 67
Garrett Atkins 3B .249 11 43 Mark Loretta SS .333 2 27
Brad Hawpe RF .300 13 54 Morgan Ensberg 3B .213 7 21
Troy Tulowitzki SS .280 8 36 Chris Burke RF .229 1 7
Chris Iannetta C .218 2 15 Eric Munson C .244 1 5
Jeff Francis LHP .120 0 0 Jason Jennings RHP .125 0 0
(7-5, 3.80) (1-2, 3.66)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS (7-5, 3.80)
HOU - JASON JENNINGS (1-2, 3.66)

UMPIRES: HP - GARY DARLING
1B - JERRY MEALS
2B - LARRY PONCINO
3B - BRUCE DRECKMAN

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS AND CHRIS IANNETTA
HOU - JASON JENNINGS AND ERIC MUNSON

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: R SPILBORGH (.304, 3 HR, 18 RBI)
K MATSUI (.294, 2 HR, 18 RBI)
M HOLLIDAY (.348, 13 HR, 61 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
HOU - JASON JENNINGS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.247, 5 HR, 27 RBI)
H PENCE (.336, 8 HR, 35 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.262, 13 HR, 49 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

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

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Spilborghs cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .347
T Helton 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
G Atkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Iannetta c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
M Ensberg 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
C Burke rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.80

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.59

Pitches-strikes: J Jennings 12-9. Ground balls-fly balls: J Jennings 0-2.
Batters faced: J Jennings 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Bruce
Dreckman.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
HOU - JASON JENNINGS</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
HOU - JASON JENNINGS

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: T HELTON (.315, 7 HR, 40 RBI)
G ATKINS (.249, 11 HR, 43 RBI)
B HAWPE (.300, 13 HR, 54 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

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

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Spilborghs cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .347
T Helton 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
G Atkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Iannetta c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .262
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .332
M Ensberg 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
C Burke rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 3 0 0 0 2 0 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta 1. Team LOB - 2.



----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 3.76

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.59

Pitches-strikes: J Francis 22-9; J Jennings 12-9. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Francis 1-2; J Jennings 0-2. Batters faced: J Francis 5; J Jennings 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Bruce
Dreckman.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
HOU - JASON JENNINGS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M ENSBERG (.213, 7 HR, 21 RBI)
C BURKE (.229, 1 HR, 7 RBI)
E MUNSON (.244, 1 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Spilborghs cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .347
T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .248
B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Iannetta c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .262
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .332
M Ensberg 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
C Burke rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 3 0 0 0 2 0 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta 1. Team LOB - 2.



----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 00 -- 0
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 3.76

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.51

Pitches-strikes: J Francis 22-9; J Jennings 23-15. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Francis 1-2; J Jennings 1-3. Batters faced: J Francis 5; J Jennings 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Bruce
Dreckman.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
HOU - JASON JENNINGS

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: T TULOWITZKI (.280, 8 HR, 36 RBI)
C IANNETTA (.218, 2 HR, 15 RBI)
J FRANCIS (.120, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Spilborghs cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .347
T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .248
B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Iannetta c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .262
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .332
M Ensberg 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .211
C Burke rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 6 0 0 0 2 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta 1. Team LOB - 2.



----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 00 -- 0
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 3.72

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.51

Pitches-strikes: J Francis 37-18; J Jennings 23-15. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Francis 1-4; J Jennings 1-3. Batters faced: J Francis 8; J Jennings 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Bruce
Dreckman.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
HOU - JASON JENNINGS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J JENNINGS (.125, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
C BIGGIO (.247, 0-FOR-1)
H PENCE (.335, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Spilborghs cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .296
K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .347
T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .248
B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .280
C Iannetta c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .217
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 8 0 0 0 1 4 2

BATTING: S - J Francis. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Spilborghs
1. Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .262
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .332
M Ensberg 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .211
C Burke rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 6 0 0 0 2 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta 1. Team LOB - 2.



----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 000 -- 0
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 3.72

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 3 0 0 0 1 4 0 3.44

Pitches-strikes: J Francis 37-18; J Jennings 41-24. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Francis 1-4; J Jennings 2-3. Batters faced: J Francis 8; J Jennings 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Bruce
Dreckman.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
HOU - JASON JENNINGS

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: K MATSUI (.292, 0-FOR-1)
M HOLLIDAY (.347, 0-FOR-1)
T HELTON (.314, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Spilborghs cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .296
K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292
M Holliday lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .347
T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314
G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .248
B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .280
C Iannetta c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .217
J Francis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 8 0 0 0 1 4 2

BATTING: S - J Francis. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Spilborghs
1. Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .249
H Pence cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .333
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .261
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .332
M Ensberg 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .211
C Burke rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Jennings p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111

Totals 10 0 1 0 2 2 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta 1. Team LOB - 3.



----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 000 -- 0
HOUSTON - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Francis 3 1 0 0 2 2 0 3.69

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jennings 3 0 0 0 1 4 0 3.44

Pitches-strikes: J Francis 57-31; J Jennings 41-24. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Francis 2-5; J Jennings 2-3. Batters faced: J Francis 12; J Jennings 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Bruce
Dreckman.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MATT HOLLIDAY SCORED KAZ MATSUI.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M HOLLIDAY ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 1
HOUSTON 0 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: T HELTON (.314, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY GARRETT ATKINS SCORED MATT HOLLIDAY.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 2
HOUSTON 0 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: B HAWPE (.299, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - JEFF FRANCIS
HOU - JASON JENNINGS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.295, 0-FOR-0, BB)
M LORETTA (.332, 0-FOR-1)
M ENSBERG (.211, 0-FOR-1)</div>