Pittsburgh @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 27, 2010 ) Pittsburgh 4, Colorado 2

The Colorado Rockies expected things to get better a little sooner than this.

The Rockies look to snap their longest losing streak in nearly two years tonight when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the middle game of their three-game series.

Coming off a 2-9 road trip, Colorado appeared to have everything in its favor entering Tuesday's series opener. It had won 15 of 19 at home, Troy Tulowitzki was returning from the disabled list and it was facing the team with the worst road record (12-38) in the major leagues.

However, the Rockies used none of the above to their advantage and saw their slide reach seven games thanks to a 4-2 loss. Brad Hawpe and Clint Barmes opened the fifth with home runs to erase a 2-0 deficit, but Garrett Jones put the Pirates ahead for good an inning later with an RBI double and Neil Walker added insurance with a solo blast in the eighth.

Zach Duke allowed one other hit besides the homers over six innings en route to his second straight win. The left-hander had not posted consecutive victories since his first two starts of the year.

With the win, Pittsburgh halted a six-game road losing streak and improved to 4-25 in its last 29 away from home. The Pirates also assured themselves of not being swept, something they were unable to avoid in seven of their previous eight road series.

For the Rockies, it was much of the same as during their dismal road trip. They scored fewer than four runs for the ninth time in 12 games and failed to cash in with runners in scoring position, going hitless in six at-bats to make them 5-for-39 in such situations over their last five contests.

Tulowitzki's return from a 33-game absence due to a broken right wrist was not what he nor Colorado had hoped for. The star shortstop went 0-for-4 and committed an error in the sixth inning that led to the tiebreaking run.

The Rockies should have known things would not go their way before the game even started. During batting practice, closer Huston Street was hit by a line drive and was taken to the hospital, where it was determined he suffered a bruised abdomen.

Street is listed as day-to-day.

One bright spot for Colorado was the performance by Jorge De La Rosa, who made his second straight solid start. The southpaw allowed three runs – two earned – and six hits in seven innings, his longest outing since his season debut against San Diego on April 9.

The Rockies, who fell to 31-17 at home, will turn to Aaron Cook to try and avoid their longest skid since May 26-June 2, 2008, when they dropped eight in a row.

Cook is 2-1 over his last four starts but has yielded five runs in two of his last three. On Friday, the 31-year old was tagged for five runs and nine hits in just 4 1/3 innings of a 6-0 loss at Philadelphia.

In eight starts at home this season, Cook is 3-0 with a 3.25 ERA. The right-hander has posted a 2-1 record and 5.67 ERA in eight career games, including three relief appearances, against Pittsburgh.

Delwyn Young is likely to be in the lineup for the Pirates, considering he is 4-for-5 lifetime vs. Cook with two RBIs. Lastings Milledge also has had success against Cook, collecting three hits – two doubles – and an RBI in six at-bats.

Trying to post consecutive road wins for the first time since May 14-15, Pittsburgh puts its hopes on the shoulders of Ross Ohlendorf.

The right-hander is just 1-2 over his last five starts but has allowed two earned runs or less in four of those contests. Despite suffering a loss, Ohlendorf surrendered only one run and five hits over six innings in Thursday's 3-2 setback to Milwaukee.

In six road outings in 2010, Ohlendorf is 0-4 with a 4.29 ERA. The 27-year old owns a 1-1 record and 7.36 ERA in two career starts against Colorado.

Two Rockies looking forward to facing Ohlendorf are Hawpe and Tulowitzki. Hawpe is 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs, while Tulowitzki has belted two solo homers in six career at-bats.