Colorado @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 26, 2013 ) Colorado 6, Arizona 3

The Colorado Rockies' organization will always have a soft spot for Jeff Francis, but may find it increasingly hard to leave him in the rotation if he doesn't start getting batters out soon. Francis, who won 17 games during the Rockies improbable World Series season of 2007, has been hit hard in three straight starts entering Saturday's game with the host Arizona Diamondbacks. Francis shut down San Diego on April 5, but has yielded 19 runs (14 earned) and 22 hits in 10 innings since.

Colorado appeared on its way to its fifth loss in six games before Troy Tulowitzki delivered a go-ahead three-run double in the fifth inning of a 6-3 victory Friday to even the series. The Rockies received a strong performance out of the bullpen from Matt Belisle, who entered with runners on second and third and none out in the seventh inning and kept the Diamondbacks off the scoreboard. Arizona will give the ball to Wade Miley, who is 4-0 against Colorado.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Colorado), Fox Sports Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Jeff Francis (1-2, 8.44 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (2-0, 2.77)

Francis will start on three days' rest, something he did eight times in 2012 when Colorado limited its starters to 75 pitches for most of the season. The 32-year-old Vancouver native, who recorded 44 of his 68 career victories with Colorado from 2005-07, threw 75 pitches and allowed four runs and three homers in four innings of Colorado's 4-3 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday. Francis is 9-7 with a 4.58 ERA in 23 starts against Arizona, including 2-0, 3.00 in three outings last season.

Miley was effective on the mound - and at the plate with his first career home run - in Arizona's 5-4 loss at San Francisco. The 26-year-old Hammond, La., native earned a no-decision after yielding two runs and striking out seven in 6 2/3 innings. Miley, who has 23 strikeouts in 26 innings, has pitched 6 2/3 innings in each of his last three starts. Tulowitzki is 0-for-6 with two walks against Miley, but Wilin Rosario is 4-for-9 with a double, home run and three RBIs.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arizona rookie SS Didi Gregorius on Friday was beaned by Colorado reliever Josh Outman in the seventh inning. After spending a few moments on the ground, Gregorius walked off the field under his own power. He is listed as day-to-day after suffering a contusion on his right temple and was slated to undergo further tests.

2. Diamondbacks RF Gerardo Parra went 1-for-3 on Friday to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 11 games.

3. Rockies RF Carlos Gonzalez snapped an 0-for-15 slide with a single in the first inning Friday, but was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts the rest of the way.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 2