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Rockies report: Francis moving forward

By Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 27, 2008 at 8:11 p.m.

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The Rockies, coming off a weekend sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, start a three-game series in Pittsburgh with Valerio De Los Santos on the mound against Ian Snell.

Video Video: The Rockies, coming off a weekend sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, start a three-game series in Pittsburgh with Valerio De Los Santos on the mound against Ian Snell. Watch »

He said it

"I just lost command of the fastball. I couldn't throw it for a strike and was getting myself in counts that aren't beneficial for the type pitcher I am. It was one of those things where I couldn't throw a ball over the plate, and when I did, they were taking advantage, for sure."

Josh Fogg, Reds starter, on facing his former teammates and giving up eight hits and seven runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Numbers game

24 RBI this month for Garrett Atkins, who had 21 in May and June combined. Atkins went 6-for-13 in the Reds' series with three doubles, one homer and five RBI and has seven doubles, one homer and 12 RBI in 10 games since the All-Star break.

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In his second rehabilitation start Saturday, Jeff Francis allowed four hits and one run in 42/3 innings for Double-A Tulsa with no walks and eight strikeouts. Working on a limit of about 75 pitches, Francis threw 77, including 50 strikes.

Manager Clint Hurdle said Francis, who is recovering from shoulder inflammation and last pitched for the Rockies June 28, "was able to throw all his pitches without any discomfort. He got stronger as the game went on."

Hurdle said Francis' fastball location was good to both sides of the plate, and he had very good command of his changeup and Francis felt very good about his outing.

Drillers pitching coach Bo McLaughlin told the Tulsa World, "He's ready (to be activated) unless they want him to throw 100 pitches."

Hurdle said Francis spent Sunday in Tulsa, Okla., and the decision where he pitches next will be made by early this morning.

ETC.

The shutout win was the Rockies' fifth this season and third on the road. The Rockies have been blanked five times this year, all on the road. . . . The Dodgers and White Sox each had a scout at the Cincinnati series. The Chicago scout plans to see the Rockies' first two games at Pittsburgh, and the one with the Dodgers plans to see the entire series with the Pirates. . . . Starters have pitched at least six innings in seven of nine games since the All-Star break. Not counting the start by Kip Wells one week ago, when he allowed eight runs, seven earned, in one-third of an inning, the starters are 9-0 with a 2.24 ERA since the break. . . . Baker has 14 hits in his past 25 at-bats, with one double, one triple, two homers and six RBI, a six-game spree that has raised his average from .267 to a season-high .302. . . . Brad Hawpe went 0-for-3, ending his string of five straight multiple-hit games. . . . Clint Barmes had one RBI in his career in 20 pinch-hit at-bats before his two-run, pinch-hit double in the eighth.