Houston @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 7, 2010 ) Houston 1, Colorado 5
After getting strong starts from their pitchers in back-to-back wins, the Colorado Rockies will look for a third consecutive stellar outing from left-hander Jeff Francis on Tuesday in the second of a four-game series with the Houston Astros.
Francis (1-2, 3.70 ERA) missed all of 2009 and part of this season after shoulder surgery. He was the Rockies’ No. 1 pitcher during their 2007 World Series run, but Francis has yielded that status to the incomparable Ubaldo Jimenez and is working his way back into form with mix results.
He won his opener but has lost two in a row, allowing nine runs in 11 innings. In Francis' most recent start last Wednesday, he allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 4-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
Colorado’s Jason Hammel threw 7 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing six hits in Monday’s 5-1 victory over the Astros. Hammel got all the run support he needed on Clint Barmes’ two-run double off Wandy Rodriguez in the second inning.
The Rockies were one out from a shutout but Geoff Blum hit an RBI single in the ninth, scoring Pedro Feliz.
Feliz was 3-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to nine games. He is 14-for-32 in that span and raised his average from .200 to .241.
Brian Moehler (0-2, 6.49) will start for Houston, and is coming off a no-decision on Thursday when he injured his groin early but remained in the game against the Washington Nationals. He allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Moehler, who started the season in the bullpen, is most likely headed back there.
He has not had much luck against the Rockies, going 1-2 with a 6.67 ERA in four starts and is 0-2 with an abysmal 9.58 ERA in two starts at Coors Field.
The Rockies, however, have had great success hitting against Moehler. Melvin Mora is 6-for-9 with two doubles and Barmes is 5-for-11 with two doubles and a home run. Brad Hawpe is 4-for-7 with a homer and Troy Tulowitzki is 3-for-5 with a home run and double.
Astros right-hander Bud Norris pitched a simulated game Monday with Triple-A Round Rock but did not feel 100 percent, according to manager Brad Mills.
Norris, who is on the disabled list since May 28 with biceps tendinitis, will throw again on Tuesday but could miss a scheduled rehab start with Round Rock on Saturday. His progress could determine whether Moehler remains in the starting rotation.
Colorado right-hander Huston Street gave up a homer and allowed two runs in a rehab start with Triple-A Colorado Springs. Street is expected to pitch in back-to-back games later this week before returning to Denver.