A Rockies start: Francis helps Colorado win Game 1 of NLDS

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10/03/2007 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Francis worked six strong innings as the Colorado Rockies took Game 1 of the NLDS with a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Francis (1-0), who had been pounded by the Phillies in his two starts in the regular season, was solid on the mound as he gave up just two runs on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Francis had given up 14 runs and 20 hits in his two starts against the Phillies this season, going 0-1, with a 15.12 ERA. It was his first career postseason start.

"I was able to get up in the count a couple of times and that helps a lot," said Francis. "I think I'm always aware of the success or failure I've had against teams, but I got out to a good start today and was able to keep it going."

Matt Holliday hit a solo home run while Garrett Atkins hit an RBI double and scored a run for the Rockies, who are appearing in the playoffs for the first time since 1995 when the team reached the postseason as a wild card.

"We got some good pitching today, from Francis and our bullpen," said Colorado manager Clint Hurdle. "There are a lot of things to be said, but we won 91 games and we have a good team. There are some good guys in our dugout."

Cole Hamels (0-1), making his first postseason start, struggled early but calmed down and finished the game giving up three runs on three hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of work.

"It's a lot different than what I faced before," said Hamels about his first postseason start. "Going out there I knew it was going to be tough. I learned a little too late. I was focused but my early struggling was what made the difference. I understand it better now and I'll have to come out the next time and get them."

Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell provided the only offense with back-to-back solo homers in the fifth inning for the Phillies, who are in the postseason for the first time since 1993 when the team captured the NL East.

"We gotta come out and win tomorrow's game," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. "That's the bottom line. They (Rockies) did a hell of a job getting here and they did a hell of a job today. They have a good club, but we have a good club too. Today was a good game but we lost so we gotta come back and win tomorrow.

Philadelphia's first four hitters, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, finished a combined 0-for-15 with just one walk and nine strikeouts. Utley struck out all four of his plate appearances while Howard, who finished the season with a major-league record 199 strikeouts, had three strikeouts.

"Some of our hitters might have been a little uptight," said Manuel. "Francis was much better today than the previous two times that we faced him. I think some of our guys were trying a little too hard."

Game 2 will take place at 3:05 p.m. (et) on Thursday with Franklin Morales slated to take the mound for Colorado and he will be opposed by Kyle Kendrick for Philadelphia.

After getting retired in order to start the game, the Rockies got to Hamels in the second.

Todd Helton led off the frame with a triple off the wall in center. Atkins followed with a double down the left field line to score Helton. After Brad Hawpe struck out swinging, Ryan Spilborghs worked a walk and Yorvit Torrealba punched a bloop single to center to score Atkins. Francis moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt and Kazuo Matsui drew a walk to load the bases. Troy Tulowitzki then got a free pass to bring home Spilborghs for a 3-0 lead before Matt Holliday struck out to end the inning.

Francis, meanwhile, struck out the first four batters until Rowand was the first to make contact with the ball on a groundout to short. Burrell then worked a walk, but Wes Helms popped out to short to end the frame.

Hamels got the first hit of the game for the Phillies in the third, but Rollins hit into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Philadelphia cut into its deficit in the fifth inning. Leading off, Rowand hit a 2-1 pitch over the right-center wall and Burrell followed with a shot over the left field wall, also on a 2-1 pitch, to make it a 3-2 game. The team later had runners on first and second, but it was with two outs, and Victorino grounded out to end the frame.

Hamels settled down after the bases-loaded walk and retired 13 straight batters before giving up a leadoff walk to Spilborghs in the seventh. After getting Torrealba and Francis out, Tom Gordon replaced Hamels on the mound and got Matsui to strike out.

Greg Dobbs drew a one-out walk in the seventh, but Carlos Ruiz hit into an inning-ending double play.

Gordon remained on the mound in the eighth and got Tulowitzki to strike out, but Holliday belted the first pitch he saw deep into the left-center seats to stake the Rockies to a 4-2 lead.

Brian Fuentes took the hill for the Rockies in the eighth and gave up a leadoff walk to Tadahito Iguchi, but got the next three outs.

Manny Corpas worked a perfect ninth inning to close out the win for the Rockies.

Game Notes

Colorado won four of the seven games against Philadelphia in the regular season...The last time the Phillies were in the playoffs, the team defeated Atlanta in the National League Championship series before falling to the Toronto Blue Jays in six games in the World Series...Colorado was eliminated by the Braves in four games in the NLDS in its only playoff appearance...It was the first time the Phillies hit back-to-back home runs in a playoff game...Francis went 8-0 with a 2.48 ERA in day starts during the regular season. The first four strikeouts he had to start the game were the most to start a postseason game since Curt Schilling, when he was a member of Philadelphia, struck out the first five batters in Game 1 of Philadelphia's NLCS contest against Atlanta on October 6, 1993.