Rockies vs. White Sox - 6/6 - Preview

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Kennedy locks horns with White Sox
Chicago (37-19) at Colorado (19-36), 7:05 p.m. MT
By Michael Gluskin / MLB.com

After welcoming the National's League best team, St. Louis, to Coors Field last week, the Rockies host the Major League-best Chicago White Sox on Monday for the first meeting between the two franchises, as the teams begin a three-game series.
Colorado is 5-2 in its 13-game homestand so far, 14-10 overall against the AL Central, and 10-5 at Coors.

Left-hander Joe Kennedy (3-5, 6.51 ERA) trying to bounce back from a disappointing outing where he gave up six runs (four earned) and 11 hits in five innings last Wednesday, pitches Monday.

Colorado manager Clint Hurdle has challenged several of his starting pitchers recently, included Kennedy and Jamey Wright. Wright has turned in two pretty solid performances, giving up one unearned run against the Cardinals, and settling down after a four-run first inning to earn a victory over Cincinnati on Saturday.

"You don't get a six or seven [ERA] overnight with 56-65 innings pitched. Just look at the numbers; look at Jamey and Kennedy's numbers, they're very similar," Hurdle said.

With Shawn Chacon on the disabled list due to a strained left hamstring, right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim (0-4, 7.04 ERA) gets a chance to start Tuesday. In his 17 bullpen appearances, Kim has a 7.84 ERA, going 0-3. He is 0-1 as a starter, but with a lower 5.40 ERA, allowing six earned runs in 10 innings.

Rookie left-hander Jeff Francis (5-2, 5.03 ERA), proclaimed the "Master of Coors Field" by Sports Illustrated, will try and become the first pitcher to win his first seven decisions at Coors on Wednesday. He is a perfect 4-0 at home this year, with a 2.93 ERA.

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Looks like it will be a fun one, hope Francis can keep it going because that would be amazing. I see us losing games 1 and 2, but winning 3.

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Pitching matchup:
CWS: RHP Freddy Garcia
• 5-3, 3.53 ERA in 2005
• 0-1, 4.70 vs. COL in 2004

COL: LHP Joe Kennedy
• 3-5, 6.51 ERA in 2005
• Has not faced CWS in 2004 or 2005

Player to watch
Outfielder Matt Holliday sat out Sunday with a slight sprain in his right pinky, but should be back in Monday's lineup. He has a nine-game hitting streak, and is batting .388 at home this year. Holliday is one of June's hottest hitters; entering Sunday, he was fifth in the Majors with a .533 average for the month.

Quotable
"They pitch and play defense, and have found a way to score one more run than the opposition -- a lot." -- Manager Clint Hurdle, on the White Sox, the Rockies' next opponent

Quick hits
Colorado has won four straight, its longest streak of the season. Sunday's win over the Reds marked the Rockies' first sweep of the year. ... Desi Relaford went 0-for-1, snapping his eight-game hit streak. ... The Rockies begin 12 straight Interleague games Monday. ... Todd Helton recorded his first multi-hit game Sunday since May 14 vs. Arizona. He has a four-game hit streak.

On deck
• Tuesday: vs. Chicago White Sox, 7:05 p.m. MT
• Wednesday: vs. Chicago White Sox, 7:05 MT
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: vs. Detroit Tigers, 3:05 p.m. MT