Rockieshome.com | Colorado Rockies News, rockies Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> The Rockies failed in an attempt to win consecutive series for the first time in 2009 and have fallen a season-most 7-1/2 games behind the torrid Dodgers. During their current 19-game stretch of consecutive games against NL West clubs, the Rockies have gone 5-10. They are getting consistent starts from RHP Jason Marquis, and RHPs Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez were effective in their last outings, a hopeful sign that their slumps are over. Fifth starter RHP Jason Hammel had his best game of the year with six scoreless innings Sunday, and LHP Jorge De La Rosa has a 3.57 ERA, second only to Marquis (3.31) among the starters, but the bullpen has blown leads in two of his starts. The bullpen is again in flux with Huston Street regaining the closer's role, Manuel Corpas going back to the middle of the game -- and maybe the minors -- and manager Clint Hurdle is left to mix and match with RHPs Jason Grilli and Matt Belisle and LHP Alan Embree in the seventh and eighth. In games decided in the seventh inning or later, the Rockies are 0-7, which is their record in one-run games and indicative of their inability to get a big hit.</div>PLAYER NEWS: --C Chris Iannetta's grand slam was the Rockies' 31st homer of the season and the first with more than one runner on base. --1B Todd Helton extended his hitting streak to seven games, six of which have been multi-hit games. During the entire streak, Helton is 13-for-26 and has raised his average to .333. --RHP Matt Daley has started his career with three straight one-inning scoreless appearances and has retired the last seven batters he has faced. --LHP Alan Embree made his 858th career appearance, tying Charlie Hough for 31st place all-time. Embree ranks sixth among active players in appearances -- Trevor Hoffman (935) is the active leader -- and second among active left-handers, trailing only Eddie Guardado (870). --LHP Glendon Rusch, who was the winning pitcher, made his first appearance since last Monday when he pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief of starter Jason Hammel against the Padres and also earned the victory. --CF Dexter Fowler has two hits in his past 17 at-bats with eight strikeouts. --SS Troy Tulowitzki, who began the season with five RBIs in his first five games, drove in two runs, his first RBIs since April 11. He also hit safely for the fifth time in his past six games. --OF Ryan Spilborghs struck out three times, equaling his total number of strikeouts in 44 at-bats in his past 13 games. --LHP Jorge De La Rosa has allowed two homers in 27 2/3 innings, both to Scott Hairston of the Padres. Hairston hit a two-run homer off De La Rosa at Coors Field in his last start April 28 and a three-run homer Monday. MEDICAL WATCH: INF Jeff Baker (sprained left wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 27. LHP Franklin Morales (strained left lat) went on the 15-day disabled list April 22. RHP Ryan Speier (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19. He threw a bullpen session April 27. RHP Taylor Buchholz (partial tear in right ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 22. The Rockies are being very cautious with Buchholz, trying to make sure the partial tear doesn't become a full-blown one and require Tommy John surgery that would sideline Buchholz for about a year. LHP Jeff Francis (left shoulder surgery in February 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list April 5. He likely will miss the entire season. Recovery time ranges from six to 12 months, meaning it's possible Francis could pitch in September but not very likely. ROTATION: RHP Aaron Cook RHP Ubaldo Jimenez RHP Jason Marquis LHP Jorge De La Rosa RHP Jason Hammel BULLPEN: RHP Huston Street (closer) RHP Manuel Corpas LHP Alan Embree LHP Glendon Rusch RHP Jason Grilli RHP Matt Belisle RHP Matt Daley CATCHERS: Chris Iannetta Yorvit Torrealba INFIELDERS: 1B Todd Helton 2B Clint Barmes SS Troy Tulowitzki 3B Garrett Atkins INF Omar Quintanilla INF/OF Ian Stewart OUTFIELDERS: LF Seth Smith CF Ryan Spilborghs RF Brad Hawpe OF Dexter Fowler OF Matt Murton

The Rockies failed in an attempt to win consecutive series for the first time in 2009 and have fallen a season-most 7-1/2 games behind the torrid Dodgers. During their current 19-game stretch of consecutive games against NL West clubs, the Rockies have gone 5-10. They are getting consistent starts from RHP Jason Marquis, and RHPs Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez were effective in their last outings, a hopeful sign that their slumps are over. Fifth starter RHP Jason Hammel had his best game of the year with six scoreless innings Sunday, and LHP Jorge De La Rosa has a 3.57 ERA, second only to Marquis (3.31) among the starters, but the bullpen has blown leads in two of his starts. The bullpen is again in flux with Huston Street regaining the closer's role, Manuel Corpas going back to the middle of the game -- and maybe the minors -- and manager Clint Hurdle is left to mix and match with RHPs Jason Grilli and Matt Belisle and LHP Alan Embree in the seventh and eighth. In games decided in the seventh inning or later, the Rockies are 0-7, which is their record in one-run games and indicative of their inability to get a big hit.

PLAYER NEWS:

--C Chris Iannetta's grand slam was the Rockies' 31st homer of the season and the first with more than one runner on base.

--1B Todd Helton extended his hitting streak to seven games, six of which have been multi-hit games. During the entire streak, Helton is 13-for-26 and has raised his average to .333.

--RHP Matt Daley has started his career with three straight one-inning scoreless appearances and has retired the last seven batters he has faced.

--LHP Alan Embree made his 858th career appearance, tying Charlie Hough for 31st place all-time. Embree ranks sixth among active players in appearances -- Trevor Hoffman (935) is the active leader -- and second among active left-handers, trailing only Eddie Guardado (870).

--LHP Glendon Rusch, who was the winning pitcher, made his first appearance since last Monday when he pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief of starter Jason Hammel against the Padres and also earned the victory.

--CF Dexter Fowler has two hits in his past 17 at-bats with eight strikeouts.

--SS Troy Tulowitzki, who began the season with five RBIs in his first five games, drove in two runs, his first RBIs since April 11. He also hit safely for the fifth time in his past six games.

--OF Ryan Spilborghs struck out three times, equaling his total number of strikeouts in 44 at-bats in his past 13 games.

--LHP Jorge De La Rosa has allowed two homers in 27 2/3 innings, both to Scott Hairston of the Padres. Hairston hit a two-run homer off De La Rosa at Coors Field in his last start April 28 and a three-run homer Monday.

MEDICAL WATCH:

INF Jeff Baker (sprained left wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 27.

LHP Franklin Morales (strained left lat) went on the 15-day disabled list April 22.

RHP Ryan Speier (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19. He threw a bullpen session April 27.

RHP Taylor Buchholz (partial tear in right ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 22. The Rockies are being very cautious with Buchholz, trying to make sure the partial tear doesn't become a full-blown one and require Tommy John surgery that would sideline Buchholz for about a year.

LHP Jeff Francis (left shoulder surgery in February 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list April 5. He likely will miss the entire season. Recovery time ranges from six to 12 months, meaning it's possible Francis could pitch in September but not very likely.

ROTATION:

RHP Aaron Cook

RHP Ubaldo Jimenez

RHP Jason Marquis

LHP Jorge De La Rosa

RHP Jason Hammel

BULLPEN:

RHP Huston Street (closer)

RHP Manuel Corpas

LHP Alan Embree

LHP Glendon Rusch

RHP Jason Grilli

RHP Matt Belisle

RHP Matt Daley

CATCHERS:

Chris Iannetta

Yorvit Torrealba

INFIELDERS:

1B Todd Helton

2B Clint Barmes

SS Troy Tulowitzki

3B Garrett Atkins

INF Omar Quintanilla

INF/OF Ian Stewart

OUTFIELDERS:

LF Seth Smith

CF Ryan Spilborghs

RF Brad Hawpe

OF Dexter Fowler

OF Matt Murton