San Francisco @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2015 ) Colorado 3, San Francisco 6

The San Francisco Giants aim to halt their five-game losing streak on Thursday, when they open a four-game series against the host Colorado Rockies. San Francisco lost Wednesday to suffer a three-game sweep at the hands of Los Angeles and finds itself 6 1/2 games behind the first-place Dodgers in the National League West and 5 1/2 in back of the Chicago Cubs for the second wild-card spot.

The Giants dropped three one-run games in the Los Angeles series as Buster Posey didn't score or drive in a run while going 8-for-14. San Francisco, which has lost 11 of its last 16 overall contests, is just 5-7 against the last-place Rockies this season. Colorado racked up 18 hits while recording a 9-4 victory over Arizona on Wednesday as Carlos Gonzalez homered twice and drove in a career-best seven runs. Gonzalez is just 1-for-17 against scheduled Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong, but Wilin Rosario has fared much better by going 5-for-14 with three homers.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, MLBN, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), ROOT (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (9-10, 4.19 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Chris Rusin (4-7, 4.94)

Vogelsong has lost consecutive outings, allowing 14 hits and seven walks in just eight innings during the stretch. He has served up 11 homers on the road this season compared to just five at spacious AT&T Park. Vogelsong defeated Colorado on May 22, when he allowed two hits over six scoreless innings and is 6-3 with a 4.38 ERA in 17 career appearances (12 starts) against the Rockies.

Rusin has lost back-to-back starts and three of his last four. He gave up 11 runs and 12 hits in two-plus innings of a loss to the New York Mets on Aug. 22 and followed up by allowing three runs and five hits in six frames against Pittsburgh on Saturday. Rusin has a 1.35 ERA in two career starts against the Giants as he gave up five runs (two earned) and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings while receiving a no-decision on June 27.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants 2B Joe Panik (back) will begin a rehab stint at Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday and is expected to return next week.

2. Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer on Wednesday to raise his NL-leading RBI count to 100 and become the first Colorado player to hit the century mark since the recently traded Troy Tulowitzki (105) in 2011.

3. San Francisco SS Brandon Crawford (oblique, calf) has missed seven of the last eight games.

PREDICTION: Giants 8, Rockies 7