Rockies try and keep playoff hopes alive in opener with Fish

Sep 14, 2007, 14:54 GMT

- The Colorado Rockies just split a four-game set in Philadelphia and will try to inch closer to the top of the NL wild card standings in the first of three straight games against the Florida Marlins tonight at Coors Field.

Colorado lost the opener of its series against the Phillies on Monday before rebounding with back-to-back victories. Then in Thursday's finale, the Rockies were blasted by a 12-4 score as starter Jeff Francis surrendered eight runs in just 3 1/3 innings.

Garett Atkins homered and finished with two hits and two RBI, while rookie Troy Tulowitzki added a pair of hits and an RBI for the Rockies, who had seven of 10 games entering last night's contest at Citizens Bank Park. Colorado is now 2 1/2 games off the top spot in the NL wild card.

Colorado will hand the ball to Josh Fogg on Friday and he is 9-9 with a 4.90 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) this season. Fogg has won back-to-back starts and is unbeaten in three straight trips to the hill. In his last performance on Sunday versus San Diego, Fogg limited the Padres to one run in five innings of a 4-2 victory.

The right-hander owns a 4-4 record with a 3.56 earned run average in 10 career starts against Florida. Fogg was beaten by the Marlins on August 1 this season at Dolphin Stadium after he gave up four runs -- three earned -- during five frames of a 4-3 setback.

Dontrelle Willis will continue his disappointing season for the Marlins on Friday against Colorado, and is 8-15 with a 5.27 ERA in 31 starts this season.

Willis is winless over his previous five starts (0-3) and just 1-12 in the last 19 starts. He absorbed the loss the last time out on September 9 against Philadelphia, allowing seven runs in three innings of an 8-5 setback at Citizens Bank Park.

The high-kicking lefty, though, is 2-0 with a 2.25 earned run average in three career starts against the Rockies.

Florida won the last two games of a three-game set with Washington, including Wednesday's 5-4 win in 12 innings. Todd Linden stroked a game-winning single in the bottom of the 12th inning to lift Florida, which has ripped off two straight wins after a three-game slide.

Miguel Cabrera had three hits and an RBI and Jeremy Hermida homered in the win. Byung-Hyun Kim started for the Marlins and allowed four runs over 5 2/3 innings. Daniel Barone collected the victory by pitching a perfect top of the 12th.

Colorado won two of three games against the Marlins in Miami from September 31-August 2 this season. Florida is 12-8 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.

© 2007 The Sports Network