Dodgers-Rockies Preview

5/3/2008 11:54 PM

By MATT BROWN
STATS Editor

The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers enjoyed a winning streak this long, it ended when Derek Lowe lost to the Colorado Rockies.

Both Lowe and his team will try to avoid the same fate Sunday, when they go for a three-game sweep of the Rockies at Coors Field.

The Dodgers (17-13) have won a major league-best eight straight games, five of which have come at Colorado's expense. After beginning the streak with a three-game sweep of the Rockies at Dodger Stadium from April 25-27, Los Angeles has taken the first two games of this series in convincing fashion.

The Dodgers used a seven-run sixth inning to win Friday's series opener 11-6, then amassed 14 hits Saturday en route to a 12-7 victory.

Los Angeles is averaging 8.8 runs per game and batting .327 during its winning streak.

"It seems like everybody's getting that rhythm together,'' said the Dodgers' Russell Martin, who went 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. "We're having fun playing right now, and that's the main thing.''

First baseman James Loney homered and drove in six runs Saturday, while outfielder Juan Pierre went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Pierre, who spent his first three major-league seasons with the Rockies from 2000-02, is 7-for-12 with five runs scored over the last three games.

The eight straight victories for the Dodgers are their most since an 11-game run from July 28-Aug. 8, 2006. That streak ended the following day, when Lowe (2-1, 2.88 ERA) pitched into the ninth inning but took a hard-luck 3-1 loss at home against the Rockies.

Lowe is 5-5 with a 5.08 ERA in 13 career starts versus Colorado. Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday is 15-for-27 (.556) against the right-hander, while Brad Hawpe is 11-for-25 (.440) with three homers in their matchups.

Lowe didn't record a decision in the Dodgers' 7-6 win over Florida on Tuesday, when he allowed six runs - three earned - and eight hits over five innings.

While Los Angeles is putting a winning streak on the line, so is Colorado starter Aaron Cook (4-1, 2.41).

The right-hander has won his last four starts while compiling a 1.93 ERA. He has also produced five consecutive quality starts since losing his season debut April 2 at St. Louis.

At San Francisco on Tuesday, Cook limited the Giants to two unearned runs while scattering 10 hits over seven innings of Colorado's 3-2 victory.

To keep his win streak going, Cook will have to overcome his recent history against the Dodgers. Cook is 0-4 in five starts versus Los Angeles since the start of the 2006 season. Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent is 11-for-19 (.579) lifetime against the Rockies starter.

Saturday's defeat was the third straight and 11th in 13 games for Colorado (11-19), which has struggled after opening the season 9-8.

"It's not fun losing. We are a quality team with a lot of good players,'' said Hawpe, who was 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs Saturday. "To go out there and lose and have as tough as stretch as we have had lately is upsetting.''