The Rockies (20-37) dropped their seventh straight on Sunday, falling 5-3 at Chicago's Wrigley Field in the finale of a four-game sweep. Colorado's skid is its longest since losing eight in a row June 22-29 last season.

The Rockies also have dropped 12 in a row on the road, two more than the previous franchise record. It's the longest road losing streak in the majors since Seattle dropped 15 straight in 2004.

This series marks the end of a 10-game road trip that began with a three-game sweep in Philadelphia. Colorado has not won outside of Denver since a 4-2 victory in San Diego on May 9.

"We're playing hard," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We continue to get dinged now and then with some execution issues and that elusive big hit is still out there."

The Rockies are 17 games below .500 for the first time since they finished the 2005 season at 67-95 and are in last place in the lackluster NL West. They have dropped five of their first six meetings with the Dodgers (27-29) this season, including a three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium from April 25-27.

However, Colorado, which won the last meeting 7-2 at Coors Field on May 4, also won the last seven meetings of 2007.

The Dodgers haven't fared much better than the Rockies lately. They are returning home after a 1-6 road trip capped by Sunday's 6-1 loss to the New York Mets.

Los Angeles, which was swept in three games at Wrigley to start the trip, has been held to fewer than two runs in seven of its last 10 games. The Dodgers are 3-23 when scoring three or fewer runs.

"We have to turn the page," manager Joe Torre said. "We know we're better than this. There is no question about it. We'll keep reminding them because you certainly don't feel good about yourself after a road trip like this."

Derek Lowe (2-5, 4.52 ERA) will get the start for Los Angeles in the series opener.

Lowe is 0-4 with a 6.02 ERA in seven starts since his last win on April 23 against Arizona. However, he threw seven scoreless innings on Wednesday before the Dodgers lost 2-1 in 10 innings to the Cubs.

Lowe has dropped four straight starts against the Rockies since the start of the 2007 season, including a 7-2 loss at Coors Field on May 4 in which he yielded five runs in five innings. He is 5-6 with a 5.33 ERA in 14 career starts against Colorado.

The Rockies counter with Greg Reynolds (0-2, 5.40), who is making his fifth start since he was called up from the minors on May 11. The right-hander, the second overall pick in the 2006 amateur draft, will be trying to bounce back from the worst start of his young career after he gave up six runs and eight walks in 5 2-3 innings of Wednesday's 6-1 loss in Philadelphia.

"He got outside himself a little," Hurdle said. "It's part of the learning curve."

Reynolds is making his first start against the Dodgers.