Francis stays winless for Rockies

Arizona topples past nemesis for third time in 2008

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Originally published 10:22 p.m., May 13, 2008
Updated 12:03 a.m., May 14, 2008

Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press

Arizona's Chris Young beats the tag of Colorado catcher Yorvit Torrealba to score on a hit by Orlando Hudson on Tuesday.

Jeff Francis is snakebitten.

A 17-game winner when the Rockies won their first National League pennant a year ago, Francis is winless this year, the Rockies are one-half game out of last place and the Arizona Diamondbacks have been a problem for the Rockies in general and Francis in particular.

Used to be Francis dominated the Diamondbacks. Even on bad days, he could sneak out of Chase Field with a victory.

But that is history.

Looking to turn around his season, Francis again was knocked around by the Diamondbacks in an 8-4 loss at Chase Field on Tuesday night, leaving Francis 0-4 for the season and 0-3 against Arizona.

The Diamondbacks are 5-1 against the Rockies, a strong retort to Colorado sweeping them in the National League Championship Series in October.

And it bothers Francis, who won 44 games in his first three full seasons.

"I know I am better than that," Francis said. "I feel I can pitch better than that. . . . I always have confidence. I can't let my confidence be shaken by something like that."

There have been glimpses of improvement. Francis bounced back after giving up 12 runs in 101/3 innings of his first two starts this season, against Arizona, to put together three consecutive seven-inning efforts in which he allowed a total of six earned runs but wound up with no-decisions. Then came two OK efforts to start this month.

Then came the latest debacle against the Diamondbacks, against whom he was 8-2 before this season, including a victory in Game 1 of the NLCS.

"Whether I get a win or loss isn't the big issue," Francis said. "It's giving the team a chance to win. I feel I am better than this. I feel I should have given us a better chance (against Arizona)."

Instead, Francis was the victim of a three-run first inning, when the first four Arizona hitters singled, then three more runs in the second when, after back-to-back singles by Randy Johnson and Chris Young, left- handed-hitting Stephen Drew drove the first pitch he was thrown - a changeup - over the right-field fence.

But that wasn't what ate at Francis.

"What bothers you is we come back and score four (off Johnson), and if I can keep it there, we have some pressure on them, but I don't," Francis said.

No, instead, Francis gave up a run in the fourth on a two-out Orlando Hudson single and was charged with a run in the fifth when Justin Upton led off with a bunt single.

After two outs, Miguel Montero singled Upton to third. Then, .154-hitting Chris Burke greeted reliever Alberto Arias with an RBI single.

Francis said his biggest problem against Arizona was several pitches ran in on the right-handed hitters - including changeups that resulted in six of the 13 hits he gave up.

"They put themselves in position to score runs and I couldn't put out the fire," he said. "But I don't feel I was that far (away). I was aggressive. I threw a lot of strikes, but they were not good enough strikes."

The Rockies, meanwhile, couldn't add on runs that were available to them.

Oh, they put a scare in Johnson, who needed 29 pitches to survive the Rockies' three-run fourth inning that began with Garrett Atkins' 426-foot home run. But Johnson shut the Rockies down after Jonathan Herrera's RBI single, which was the fifth consecutive hit to open that inning.

Francis put down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third, but Johnson struck out Willy Taveras and got a groundout from Clint Barmes.

Once Johnson got out of the fifth untouched - despite Matt Holliday's leadoff single - Arizona manager Bob Melvin went to the bullpen, and the relievers, who had allowed 11 runs in getting swept last weekend at Wrigley Field, gave up only two hits in the final four innings.

"We need to get better across the board," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "The bottom line is we all have to pull together and play better."

ROCKIES REPORT

Three keys

Three keys to the Rockies' 8-4 loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night at Chase Field:

1. Stephen Drew might be a left- handed hitter, but he wasn't phased by Rockies left-hander Jeff Francis. Drew shot a single to right on the second pitch he saw in the first inning, setting up a three-run rally, and on the first pitch he was thrown in the second, he hit a three-run home run. He is 7-for-17 against Francis.

2. The Rockies already had scored three runs, and after Francis' sacrifice bunt, they had runners on second and third with one out in the fourth, but Randy Johnson was able to strike out Willy Taveras before Clint Barmes grounded out.

3. Arizona's bullpen, which gave up 13 runs in the Cubs' three-game sweep of Diamondbacks last weekend, pitched four shutout innings against the Rockies.

Etc.

Rockies first baseman Todd Helton was out of the starting lineup for the second time this year. Manager Clint Hurdle has said he is looking for spots to rest Helton and he also wants to get third baseman Garrett Atkins a day off. Atkins has played in every game, but he extended his current hitting streak to 11 games and has a hit in 25 of the past 26 games. . . . In his past three games, Matt Holliday is 0-for-3 on a total of three pitches in the first inning. . . . Toronto, looking to beef up its offense, has shown interest in Rockies outfield prospect Seth Smith, who played a key role off the bench in September and is with Triple-A Colorado Springs. . . . Third baseman Ian Stewart of Triple-A Colorado Springs was selected the Pacific Coast League Offensive Player of the Week for May 5-11. He hit .385 with six runs, four doubles, one triple, three home runs and nine RBI in 26 at-bats. . . . The Rockies are showing interest in right-handed pitcher Anthony Reyes, recently sent to Triple-A Memphis (Tenn.) by St. Louis. The Rockies are having scouts watch Reyes to see if he can get his season turned around in the minors. He and Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan remain at odds.

FIRST PITCH

HEALING

Right-handers Jason Hirsh (strained right rotator cuff) and Luis Vizcaino (right shoulder soreness) threw batting practice Tuesday and were given clearance to go to Tucson to continue their rehabilitation work in extended spring training.

They both expect to throw one more session of batting practice, then work into some games.

Hirsh, a starter, threw 45 pitches. Vizcaino, a reliever, threw 15 pitches and "felt good."

NUMBERS GAME

19 pitchers have appeared in games for the Rockies this season, the most in the majors. Colorado used a major league-record 30 pitchers last year.

LEFT ON

Left-hander Aaron Fultz is working out with the extended spring program and has impressed. He could report to a minor league team in the next week and could be major league ready by late May, which would give the Rockies a left-hander in the bullpen in addition to closer Brian Fuentes. Fultz was released by Cleveland in spring training.

• May 14, 2008

  12:09 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  SteveC writes:

  For ten million or so a year, I'll bet I could go winless too. Where do I sign up?

• May 14, 2008

  4:41 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  CyberHostage writes:

  Maybe Francis needs to warn opposing batters that if any of them touches his fastball, he'll kill* 'em.

  Sorry, couldn't resist.

  (* not literally, of course)

• May 14, 2008

  5:13 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  AKuser writes:

  Ok we get it already, the starting pitching is pathetic as usual. Cook should be the #2, Francis #3, One of the young guns #4 and the remainder in AAA. Since management wont spend money to improve the pitching they should start shopping Atkins, Helton or Holliday for decent starting pitching. Tough being a roxs fan watching a team build and build for some unknown point in the future. Kind of like being a Chiefs fan...