Cubs try for another Rocking in Mile High City

Baseball Betting Lines

08/11/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs hope to continue their recent dominance of the Colorado Rockies when the two postseason contenders resume a four-game series this evening at Coors Field.

The Cubs entered this set on a stretch of six losses in seven games, including four in a row, but appear to have rediscovered their winning form in the Rocky Mountains. After cruising to a 10-2 win in Thursday's series opener, Chicago received strong pitching and timely hitting to post a 6-2 triumph over Colorado last night.

Jacque Jones, Matt Murton and Jason Kendall each had three hits and Jason Marquis pitched into the seventh inning to allow the Cubs to keep pace in the National League Central race. Chicago remains a half-game behind first-place Milwaukee in the division standings.

Jones and Murton each had solo homers while Kendall delivered a key two-run single in the win. Jones also drove in another run with a double on the evening.

Marquis (9-7) yielded just one unearned run and five hits while walking none in his 6 2/3 innings of work. The right-hander also went 1-for-3 with a run scored at the plate.

Rockies starter Aaron Cook (8-7) took the loss after allowing five runs, only two of which were earned, over the first six innings. Troy Tulowitzki knocked in both runs for Colorado, which recorded a three-game home sweep of Milwaukee prior to this series.

Colorado lost a bit of ground in the NL West and wild-card races with Friday's setback. The club is now six games behind division-leading Arizona and three back of San Diego, which currently holds the top spot in the wild card standings.

Chicago has now won all five meetings with Colorado this season and six consecutive matchups dating back to last year. The Cubs swept a three-game set from the Rockies at Wrigley Field in late June.

The Rockies look to reverse that trend tonight behind Josh Fogg as the serviceable veteran takes aim at a fourth consecutive win at home.

Fogg is 3-0 with a 3.15 earned run average over his three most recent Coors Field outings and is coming off Monday's defeat of Milwaukee on home turf. The right-hander held the Brewers to two runs, both of which came on solo homers, on six hits over the first seven innings.

The 30-year-old has won five of his last seven overall decisions after posting a 1-5 record over the season's first two months.

Fogg has faced Chicago 19 times previously and owns a 6-7 record with a 5.85 ERA against this evening's opponent. He did not pitch against the Cubs in the Rockies' visit to Wrigley Field earlier this season.

Chicago will give the ball tonight to Rich Hill, who hopes to post a win after a string of frustrating no decisions in each of his last four starts. The left-hander has recorded a 2.78 ERA over that stretch and yielded two runs or less in three of those contests.

Hill was especially good Monday in Houston, where he gave up only one run and three hits while fanning six over seven innings in a game the Cubs wound up losing in extra frames.

The young left-hander will be attempting to improve off his only career Coors Field start, which came on August 11, 2006. Hill was tagged for six runs in 4 2/3 innings to take the loss in Chicago's 10-2 setback.

In injury news, the Rockies hope to have first baseman Todd Helton back in the lineup for tonight's game. The veteran slugger has sat out the team's last two contests with back spasms.

Chicago third baseman Aramis Ramirez missed his third straight game with a sore right wrist and is doubtful to start for the remainder of this series.