Colorado @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 9, 2013 ) Colorado 6, San Francisco 9

Having cooled off the Colorado Rockies with two straight victories, the host San Francisco Giants look for their first sweep of the season on Wednesday afternoon. The Giants have won eight in a row against the Rockies, who blew a four-run lead and lost 9-6 on Tuesday. Barry Zito gets the start for San Francisco, which has won 15 consecutive games when Zito has pitched. Closer Sergio Romo has five saves in the Giants’ first eight games and could be unavailable Wednesday.

The Rockies began the series leading the National League in several offensive categories, but they’ve been held to 10 hits over the first two games. Colorado is 4-16 against the Giants at AT&T Park since 2011. The Rockies’ starting rotation has been a pleasant surprise, but middle relief has quickly become a source of concern. Adam Ottavino, Matt Belisle and Wilton Lopez each struggled in Tuesday’s loss, and Lopez has a 10.80 ERA after four appearances.

TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Colorado), Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Jeff Francis (1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Giants LH Barry Zito (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Francis started the Rockies’ home opener Friday against San Diego and allowed one run on five hits. He is 7-9 with a 5.38 ERA in 19 career starts against the Giants, including 3-6, 5.72 in 10 starts at AT&T Park. Angel Pagan is 4-for-12 with two homers against Francis, while Hunter Pence has three hits in 17 at-bats. Francis, who has a career mark of 68-73 in 205 games (204 starts), reached 1,000 career innings pitched in a Rockies uniform with his season debut.

Zito was sharp in his first start Friday against St. Louis, tossing seven shutout innings and allowing three hits in the Giants’ 1-0 victory. The three-time All-Star is 7-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 20 career games (18 starts) against Colorado. He’s won his last five decisions against the Rockies and hasn’t had a losing decision since Sept. 25, 2008, a span of 11 starts. Dexter Fowler is 5-for-23 against Zito, and Troy Tulowitzki is 6-for-41 with eight strikeouts.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rockies have hit at least one home run in each of their first eight games.

2. Pence and 3B Pablo Sandoval have combined to record 13 of the Giants’ 27 RBIs.

3. Pence recorded his 1,000th career hit Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Rockies 5, Giants 2