Thu Aug 7 11:16:40 2008

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Rockies, Nationals wrap up set with double dip

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(Sports Network) - Streaking right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez looks for his fifth consecutive win and seventh in eight starts today, when the Colorado Rockies host the Washington Nationals in the doubleheader finale of a weather- impacted four-game series.

Game three of the series was postponed by rain on Wednesday and will be made up today as the opener of a twinbill beginning at 3:05 p.m.

Jimenez, who'll start today's second game, had a 2-8 record after a loss at Detroit on June 27 but has since gone 6-1, including a seven-inning masterpiece against Florida Friday in Miami.

In that win, the 24-year-old allowed just two hits over seven scoreless innings and struck out 10 batters.

In fact, he's allowed only four runs in four starts since a July 12 loss to the New York Mets, while surrendering 16 hits and striking out 20 in 29 innings.

Jimenez is 1-0 with a 2.25 earned run average in two lifetime starts and 12 innings against the Nationals.

Lefty Odalis Perez starts game two for the Nationals and can run his career mark against the Rockies to the .500 level.

The 31-year-old is 6-7 in 18 games (17 starts) against Colorado with a 3.87 earned run average in 109 1/3 innings.

He beat Cincinnati in his last start on Friday, allowing three hits and a run in 7 1/3 innings.

New Jersey-born right-hander Jason Bergmann tries again for his first win since May 15 and will start for the Nationals in game one.

Since that 1-0 blanking of the Mets at Shea Stadium, the 26-year-old Rutgers University product is 0-7 and the Nationals are 2-12 in the 14 games in which he's appeared.

He has pitched more effectively as of late, allowing two or fewer runs in seven of his last nine appearances. However, the Nationals have scored just 31 runs over that span and posted a 2-7 record in those games.

Bergmann got a no-decision in his only career start against Colorado after allowing five hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Bergmann will be opposed by Colorado's Jeff Francis, who was slated to start Wednesday's game after being activated from the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day. The 27-year-old lefty had been sidelined for more than a month with inflammation in his left shoulder.

Francis is 1-0 with a 5.29 ERA in three career starts against Washington.

Colorado has won eight of its last nine over the Nationals at home and went 4-3 in last year's season series between the two clubs. The Rockies won all three tests at Coors in 2007.

These teams have split the first two games of this set, with Washington winning Tuesday's encounter by an 8-2 count.