Francis dominates Reds, helps Rockies snap two-game skid <h3>COLORADO 4, CINCINNATI 1</h3>DENVER (Ticker) -- Jeff Francis continued to impress and ToddHelton made sure his work was rewarded. Francis threw seven dominant innings and Helton had afirst-inning two-run homer as the Colorado Rockies posted a 4-1victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Francis (5-4) retired his first 12 hitters and allowed just onehit through five innings in the shortest game in Coors Fieldhistory at 2 hours, 11 minutes. "Yeah, your cleanup hitter hits a home run in the first inning,"Francis said. "There's nothing better than that. It's justwhat you're looking for. He has been anchoring the lineup." Meanwhile Francis has been anchoring the pitching staff. The26-year-old has allowed two runs or less in his last six starts,came through to help the Rockies snap a two-game skid and avoidtheir longest losing streak of the season. However, Francis does not think of himself as a stopper. "I'm really thinking about it like that," Francis said. "It'snice to be on a roll and to be that guy the team can depend onto win one." Colorado manager Clint Hurdle spoke of Francis' hot streak. "He has just really been pitching, making pitches," he said."His last five starts he's been on a nice streak we haven't seenaround here in a long time." The lefthander has been Colorado's best starter, throwing atleast seven innings in his last seven starts. On Saturday, heallowed just one run and five hits in seven frames with sixstrikeouts and one walk. Francis lost his shutout bid in the seventh when he allowedconsecutive doubles to Alex Gonzalez and Edwin Encarnacion. "Jeff Francis pitched really well and kept us off-balance,"Cincinnati manager Jerry Narron said. "Kyle (Lohse) did a nicejob for us, too. He made one mistake there to Helton in thefirst inning and Helton took advantage of it." Manny Corpas pitched a scoreless eighth and Brian Fuentes workedthe ninth for his 16th save in as many chances. Helton provided Francis with an early cushion by blasting atwo-run homer to center field in the first. It was his sixthhome run of the season. "I hit it good, obviously, but you never know here the way theball is flying," Helton said. Francis was ecstatic to have the early run support. "It's great having a lead early in the game," Francis said."Especially with the way I felt. It was just kind of a boostand you can go after guys a little more." Kaz Matsui, who had two hits, scored two of the four runs forColorado, which has won three of the four meeting this seasonwith the Reds. Matsui gave the Rockies a 3-0 lead when he led off the fourthwith a single and took off for second with Matt Holliday at theplate. Holliday hit a pop out to second, but Brandon Phillipscould not make a play because he was covering second. Lohse (2-7) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings forthe Reds, who had won five of their last six games.
