San Francisco @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 4, 2010 ) San Francisco 3, Colorado 4

A tremendously successful July has put the San Francisco Giants back in the thick of the NL West pennant race. However, the one team they struggled with last month is standing in their way.

The streaking Giants seek a fourth straight win on Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies, who handed them their lone series loss in July.

After a mediocre first-half, San Francisco has flipped the switch and is starting to put pressure on the NL West-leading San Diego Padres. The Giants have posted an NL-best 20-6 mark and gained five games on the Padres since July 3.

San Francisco, which was idle on Monday, trails San Diego by just two games heading into this abbreviated two-game set.

The Giants' resurgence can be attributed to improved play within the division. Following this past weekend’s sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team has won nine of 10 against NL West opponents after starting the season 9-20 against them.

Included in the Giants' poor start within the division was a disastrous trip to Colorado which severely threatened their postseason hopes. They entered Denver having lost five straight, then promptly dropped three of four, falling 7 1/2 games back of the division lead.

The Giants hope to fare better this time around against Aaron Cook (4-7, 5.08 ERA), whose rough season continued when he injured his foot during batting practice on Saturday.

Cook is 0-2 with a 5.94 ERA over his last two starts. On Wednesday, he allowed five runs and six hits in a season-low 2 1/3 innings of a 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The right-hander is 1-1 with a 5.84 ERA in two starts against the Giants this season.

Fortunately for Cook, he’ll have the support of an offense that has averaged 10 runs during the Rockies’ four-game winning streak.

Cook will be opposed by Jonathan Sanchez (7-6, 3.54), who suffered through one of his worst starts of the season last Wednesday. Fortunately for him, Sanchez was rescued by the Giants’ offense.

The left-hander was rocked for five runs and seven hits in six innings of a 10-9 victory over the Florida Marlins in 10 innings. He allowed three runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 4-1 loss to San Francisco on May 2.

Sanchez won’t have to face Dexter Fowler, who suffered a left hip and rib contusion after crashing into the outfield wall in Sunday’s win over the Chicago Cubs. Fowler terrorized the Giants last month, going 10-for-16 with seven runs scored last month.

Colorado has won eight of the last 10 meetings at Coors Field.