San Francisco @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2013 ) San Francisco 1, Colorado 6

Colorado first baseman Todd Helton homered in the series opener and is three hits shy of a milestone as the Rockies host the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. Helton hit his 363rd career homer – one behind Detroit star Miguel Cabrera – and is closing in on becoming the 96th player in major-league history with 2,500 career hits. San Francisco has lost six of its last nine games and Monday’s 6-1 loss dropped the Giants to 24-38 on the road.

Giants outfielder Hunter Pence smashed into the right-field wall on Monday while trying to catch Michael Cuddyer’s triple and said afterward that he will play Tuesday – which will be his 141st consecutive start and a streak he wants to continue despite a down season for the club. “Every day I enjoy competing at the major-league level,” Pence told reporters. “So I’m blessed to get the opportunity. As a kid growing up, I never would have dreamed I’d get to play one day in the major leagues, let alone get to play every day.” Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (ribs) has missed the last two games but hopes to be in the lineup on Tuesday.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Yusmeiro Petit (0-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Chad Bettis (0-2, 4.50)

Petit is replacing injured Matt Cain in the rotation and looking for his first big-league win since 2009. He has made one major-league appearance this season, allowing two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings of relief against the Cincinnati Reds on July 23. Petit was 5-6 with a 4.52 ERA in 15 starts at Triple-A Fresno.

Bettis is winless in five major-league outings and has pitched six innings just once. He allowed a season-low one run in 5 1/3 innings while taking no-decision against the Philadelphia Phillies in his last outing. Bettis gave up two runs and six hits against Pittsburgh on August 11 in his lone previous home start.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies CF Dexter Fowler left Monday’s game with a bruised left knee and could miss Tuesday’s game.

2. Giants C Buster Posey is 7-for-15 over the last four games but manager Bruce Bochy plans to rest him Tuesday.

3. Colorado RHP Rafael Betancourt learned Monday that he has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching arm; the 38-year-old is hoping to avoid career-ending surgery.

PREDICTION: Rockies 9, Giants 7