Durango53
04-15-2005, 11:42 AM
GAME: San Francisco Giants (4-4) at Colorado Rockies (1-7).
TIME: Friday, 8:35 p.m. EDT.
Less than two weeks into the season, 2005 is already looking like it could be a long year for the Colorado Rockies.
The Rockies hope a return to Coors Field can help them end a seven-game losing streak as they open a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.
Since rallying for a season-opening 12-10 victory over San Diego, Colorado has lost seven straight, the last six coming on the road.
The Rockies, by far the youngest team in the majors, have been outscored 50-24 and are batting .249 during the skid, while the starters have compiled a 5.65 ERA.
Off to the worst start in team history, Colorado has lost 10 in a row on the road, matching a franchise record.
Despite the poor start, manager Clint Hurdle is taking consolation in the fact that his team has lost all but one game in the last six by no more than three runs.
"Now it's just going about playing nine hard innings and playing good baseball," he said. "It's very obvious that we're close and we're in games, and while we're not finishing up with a 'W,' it's right there. We're not overmatched by any means."
After allowing 25 runs in three straight losses at San Francisco, the Rockies received much better pitching in three consecutive losses to Arizona, but scored only four runs.
Colorado concluded its road trip Wednesday with a 5-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.
"It's frustrating," first baseman Todd Helton said. "But it's no more frustrating than the other ones. It's just very, very frustrating."
Although Helton is batting .370, he hasn't homered this season and has no RBIs in five straight games.
The Giants should be happy to see the Rockies after losing two of three to the rival Dodgers, including a 4-1 loss Wednesday.
Three of San Francisco's four wins this season have come against Colorado. In their three-game sweep at SBC Park from April 8-10, the Giants batted .327 (34-for-104) and outscored the Rockies 25-14.
While the Giants are 3-0 against Colorado, they dropped to 1-4 against Los Angeles with Wednesday's defeat.
"They've got our number, but it's just the eighth game of the season," Giants reliever Matt Herges said.
With Barry Bonds and Moises Alou on the disabled list, the Giants desperately need some of their other players to fill the void. Third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo has done just that in the early part of the season.
Alfonzo had two of the Giants' five hits Wednesday, increasing his major league-leading average to .516 with two homers and seven RBIs.
TIME: Friday, 8:35 p.m. EDT.
Less than two weeks into the season, 2005 is already looking like it could be a long year for the Colorado Rockies.
The Rockies hope a return to Coors Field can help them end a seven-game losing streak as they open a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.
Since rallying for a season-opening 12-10 victory over San Diego, Colorado has lost seven straight, the last six coming on the road.
The Rockies, by far the youngest team in the majors, have been outscored 50-24 and are batting .249 during the skid, while the starters have compiled a 5.65 ERA.
Off to the worst start in team history, Colorado has lost 10 in a row on the road, matching a franchise record.
Despite the poor start, manager Clint Hurdle is taking consolation in the fact that his team has lost all but one game in the last six by no more than three runs.
"Now it's just going about playing nine hard innings and playing good baseball," he said. "It's very obvious that we're close and we're in games, and while we're not finishing up with a 'W,' it's right there. We're not overmatched by any means."
After allowing 25 runs in three straight losses at San Francisco, the Rockies received much better pitching in three consecutive losses to Arizona, but scored only four runs.
Colorado concluded its road trip Wednesday with a 5-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.
"It's frustrating," first baseman Todd Helton said. "But it's no more frustrating than the other ones. It's just very, very frustrating."
Although Helton is batting .370, he hasn't homered this season and has no RBIs in five straight games.
The Giants should be happy to see the Rockies after losing two of three to the rival Dodgers, including a 4-1 loss Wednesday.
Three of San Francisco's four wins this season have come against Colorado. In their three-game sweep at SBC Park from April 8-10, the Giants batted .327 (34-for-104) and outscored the Rockies 25-14.
While the Giants are 3-0 against Colorado, they dropped to 1-4 against Los Angeles with Wednesday's defeat.
"They've got our number, but it's just the eighth game of the season," Giants reliever Matt Herges said.
With Barry Bonds and Moises Alou on the disabled list, the Giants desperately need some of their other players to fill the void. Third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo has done just that in the early part of the season.
Alfonzo had two of the Giants' five hits Wednesday, increasing his major league-leading average to .516 with two homers and seven RBIs.