Rockies wrap up Snakes

[Durango53]

Colorado first baseman Todd Helton loves to get hits and home runs. But he also loves baseball, and in baseball, the hits don't always happen.

Monday night's 0-for-4 outing, including two strikeouts, in the 5-3 loss to Arizona left Helton's batting average at .295. It won't cost Helton his No. 3 spot in the Colorado batting order, but that and Helton's .214 (3-for-14) batting average with runners in scoring position is enough to cause some alarm.

Helton knocked his first home run on Sunday in the season's 11th game. It's not the deepest into a season he's gone without going deep. Helton didn't homer in all of April as a rookie in 1998, and it took him 14 games in 2002.

Manager Clint Hurdle said: "Look at the back of his bubble gum card and he's a pretty good player, pretty good hitter."

Helton has learned to embrace his struggles.

"It's always going to be a battle," Helton said. "That's why I like it so much. It's not easy. It's not easy for anybody. Don't get me wrong, but I enjoy the battle part of it."

[Durango53]

COL: LHP Jeff Francishttp://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/433585.jpg
• 0-0, 7.00 ERA in 2005
• 0-0, 1.80 ERA vs. ARI in 2005

ARI: LHP Shawn Esteshttp://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/113915.jpg
• 1-0, 3.46 ERA in 2005
• 1-0, 1.29 ERA vs. COL in 2005

[Durango53]

Player to watch
Francis has been in and out of the strike zone in his thee career games against Arizona. He faced the Diamondbacks twice last season, going 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA. More importantly, he struck out 11 and walked one. But he faced them on Wednesday, and although he left after five innings with the game tied, 1-1, he walked six. He did, however, hold the Diamondbacks to three hits.

[Durango53]

Quotable
"If I'm in an inning and I've walked guys already, I can't just give up. I have to do everything I can to get out of the inning. I have to remain tough and just throw the pitches I need to." -- Francis on overcoming walks in his last start

[Durango53]

Quick hits
All but three of Colorado's 10 losses this season have been by three or fewer runs. ... When right-hander Shawn Chacon walked Shawn Green with two outs in the sixth inning on Monday night, it was his first free pass after 11 2/3 innings this season. Chacon walked 52 in 63 1/3 innings last season as Colorado's closer. ... The Rockies lead Major League Baseball with six blown saves, and they are on pace for 81. Colorado set the Major League record last year with 34.

[Durango53]

On television:
• COL: FSN Rocky Mountain
• ARI: FSN Arizona

On radio:
• COL: KOA 850 AM
• ARI: KTAR 620 AM; KSUN 1400 AM (Español)

[awefullspellare]

Good win today. Francis was great and Holliday was amazing. I like some of these young guys, just wish we could win more ;).

[Timberwolf]

OMG! ROCKIES WIN

I AM SPEECHLESS. I REALLY AM.

LET HAVE A PARTY!

:Party: :Party: :Party: :Party:

Party in the house at yagsy's Padres friar forum.

I am buying for everyone.

God this feels good.

It's good to see the nice guys win.

[Durango53]

They stayed out of the bullpen that is the reason they won. Jeff got to pitch and when you throw strikes in Coors good things happen. They brought in a guy out of the pen late in the 8th for some clean up and Tsao for some mop up to learn more of the closer roll so Rox win.

Side note Tsao was hitting 100 MPH on the fastball.... :eek: