Rockies-Brewers box score

Jeff Francis willingly accepted the trade-off as he sat through several long innings Wednesday and watched his Rockies teammates pile up runs.

He set a franchise record by winning his eighth consecutive game, as the Rockies completed a three- game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers with a 19-4 romp. But Francis threw 103 pitches in five innings and clearly wasn't at his best.

"It's tough to find a rhythm," he said. "But you ask any pitcher if he'd rather find a rhythm or have a 16-run lead in the third inning, I think you'd get the same answer most of the time."

With the Rockies scoring at a dizzying pace, Francis' arithmetic understandably was a little off. The Rockies' lead in the third inning was 11 runs. They scored once in the first, batted around and scored seven runs in the second, added three in the third and, after the Brewers scored twice in the fourth, batted around again during a five- run inning.

The victory pushed the Rockies five games above .500 for the first time since May 22, 2006, and improved their record to 59-54, the best in franchise history after 113 games.

The Rockies matched a franchise record with 11 extra-base hits, equaled their biggest inning this year with that seven-run second, and reached season highs in runs and, with 23 hits, their most since Sept. 20, 2005.

It was an offensive barrage that afforded Clint Hurdle a managerial luxury. Instead of anticipating pitching moves with an eye toward matchups and plotting strategy in a close game, Hurdle said, "You just keep your fingers crossed that you don't lose any players."

That remains to be seen. Todd Helton was lifted for a pinch hitter in the third because of back spasms he said he suffered while sliding home in the second. When Helton got up, he reached for his lower back with his left hand.

Helton, who nudged his average back to .300 with a run-scoring double in the second that gave him eight RBI in his past four games, has experience dealing with back issues.

"I know when something's really hurting," he said. "I know when it's not. It's something I'll deal with and, hopefully, come back (today)."

The Rockies will know more today about the status of pitcher Jason Hirsh. He took a line drive off his lower right leg in the first inning Tuesday, pitched six innings and, much to his surprise, X-rays on Wednesday revealed a fractured fibula.

"It's a non-weight-bearing bone," said Hirsh, who is scheduled to throw in the bullpen today. "If I can throw and be able to push off and not alter my mechanics, I think they'll have (that as) a consideration as to the next step. If it's too painful or I can't do it, they'll probably shut me down until it starts healing up."

Watching a replay of his Tuesday start, Hirsh was encouraged he didn't alter his mechanics and maintained a solid delivery. But he's aware the Rockies, looking more to his promising future than the current pennant race, could err on the side of caution and put him on the disabled list.

"I'm in limbo right now," Hirsh said.

Not so the Rockies, who moved into third place in the National League West and are four games behind and are two back in the wild-card race. They have 49 games remaining, including 27 at Coors Field, where they have won 15 of their past 18 games and begin a four-game series tonight with the Chicago Cubs.

The Rockies charge into the series having outscored Milwaukee 36-10. In the blowout Wednesday, Garrett Atkins matched his career high with six RBI and went 4-for-4 with two doubles.

Troy Tulowitzki scored a career- high four runs, drove in three and equaled his career high with four hits, including two doubles and his 14th home run. He was in a 6-for-32 slide before going 6-for-9 the past two games, batting in what Hurdle called "kind of a honey hole" - namely the second spot in the lineup.

"He showed some resolve through this," Hurdle said.

So have the Rockies, whose 18- 27 start is a hazy memory. Since then, they have gone 41-27, which is the best record in the National League and has put them squarely in the NL West fray.

"What we've been working for is to be able to play meaningful games late in the year," Francis said. "And we're making that happen every day we come out, and we expect to win. The games coming up within our division, hopefully, we can capitalize and find ourselves in a good spot."

Those games are next week - three at San Diego and three at Los Angeles. But first, there's the matter of trying to keep moving forward against the Cubs, who are 58-55 and a game game behind the fading Brewers.

"We like where we are," Hurdle said, "but we're not where we want to be. I think that's the biggest point. We want more."

etkinj@RockyMountainNews.com

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