PEORIA, Ariz. - Plot his career path and there has been steady progression for Jeff Francis in two full seasons with the Rockies. Indications this spring point to something different, namely a swifter ascent for the 26-year-old left-hander.

There are some statistical reasons to believe that Francis' pinpoint command could cut his walk ratio to something negligible this year. And there have been utterances from Francis - by no means verbal swagger - that suggest the depend-on- me mind-set he embraced and savored in the minors could be far more evident this year.

On Friday, in a 6-5 win in 10 innings against the Seattle Mariners, Francis became the first Rockies pitcher to work four innings this spring training. He did not issue a walk and struck out five while allowing three runs. Two were the result of left fielder Alexis Gomez losing a flyball in the sun that put runners on second and third with no out in the third.

"Coming up, he had some trouble repeating his delivery and his command would kind of come and go," manager Clint Hurdle said. "One of the adjustments he had to make was trying to find in-game adjustments. He had a lot of success finding those quickly. He's really improved in that area, and now (that) he's repeating his delivery, his overall command has sharpened up."

Francis has gone 30-25 in his 72 starts, going 14-12 with a 5.68 ERA in 2005 and 13-11 with a 4.16 ERA last season. He has been particularly effective at Coors Field, where he's 18-8 with a 4.46 ERA in 32 starts.

The Rockies sized up that production and measured it against Francis' potential and makeup and signed him to a four-year, $13.5 million contract after last season.

Hurdle said the deal has "really enhanced his comfort zone. I think it's been a catalyst for him. He always demands more of himself."

The contract was tangible evidence of the Rockies counting on Francis for the foreseeable future, a feeling he welcomes.

"I kind of feed off confidence like that," he said. "When I'm out there, I know that everybody out there with me is planning on me and has confidence in me that I can get it done. That just builds your confidence even more.

"In my short baseball career, I've had times in the minor leagues where guys were depending on me to win a game. I like that situation. I want to be the guy they depend on to win the game."

Walks have been a nuisance for Francis rather than a nagging problem. He issued 3.43 walks per nine innings in 2005 and 3.12 last year. This spring, Francis has not issued a walk in six Cactus League innings. He allowed one walk in three innings of a "B" game that doesn't count in the statistics.

"I think that's just a reflection of the command I've had up to now this spring," Francis said. "I've felt so good with my release point. I've been able to throw strikes when I need to. Even (Friday) I got to a couple three-ball counts - 3-1, 3-2 - I was able to put the ball in the strike zone at least (and) make them hit it. A couple guys struck out looking."

Francis went to 3-1 and then 3-2 on Ben Broussard, a left- hander, and struck him out in the second and to 3-1 and 3-2 before throwing a fastball over the inner portion of the plate for a called third strike on Richie Sexson in the fourth. Francis went to a full count in the third on Willie Bloomquist, who sliced a two-run triple to right after Gomez's gaffe.

Francis' other called strikeout came on a 2-2 change-up to Jose Vidro in the first. The next batter was left-handed-hitting Raul Ibañez, who missed a 1-2 pitch to end the inning.

Francis said "getting the ball down more consistently" was what he took out of his outing against the Mariners, a game when Francis said he lacked the feel he has had previously.

"He pitched exceptionally well," Hurdle said. "He carved up some left-handers and some guys that can swing the bat a little bit. He spun the ball well. He commanded his fastball well. He's repeating that delivery. He's pitching down in the zone and he's changing speeds effectively."

COLORADO	SEATTLE
	ab	r	h	bi		ab	r	h	bi
Finley dh	4	1	3	1	Suzuki cf	3	0	1	1
Almonte ph-dh	1	0	0	0	Jones pr-cf	1	0	0	1
Matsui 2b	4	0	0	0	Bloomquist 3b	3	1	2	1
Herrera 2b	1		01	0	MTuisasosopo 3b	2	0	1	0
Hawpe rf	3	0	0	0	Vidro dh	2	0	0	1
Spilborghs rf	1	0	1	2	Clement ph-dh	0	0	0	0
JLopez c	3	0	1	0	Dawkins pr-dh	1	0	0	0
Colina c	2	1	1	1	Ibañez lf	2	0	0	0
Gomez lf	3	1	1	0	Morse pr-lf	1	0	0	0
Salazar lf	1	0	0	0	Sexson 1b	3	0	0	0
JKoshansky 1b	4	0	0	0	Torcato rf	2	0	0	0
Stewart 3b	4	1	1	1	Broussard rf-1b	4	0	0	0
Barmes ss	3	0	1	1	Johjima c	3	0	1	0
Quintanilla ss	1	0	0	0	Wilson pr	0	1	0	0
Sullivan cf	4	2	2	0	Burke c	0	0	0	0
					Reed ph	1	1	1	0
					RJohnson c	0	0	0	0
					Lopez 2b	3	1	2	0
					Betancourt ss	3	1	1	0
					Ordoñez ss	0	0	0	0
					LaHair ph	1	0	1	1
					Navarro pr-ss	0	0	0	0
Totals	39	6	12	6	Totals	35	5	10	5
Colorado......010	010	012	1	-	6	12	0
Seattle......003	000	101	x	-	5	10	1

E - Broussard. DP - Colorado 1, Seattle 1. LOB - Colorado 4, Seattle 6. 2B - Sullivan, Finley, Betancourt, Suzuki, Johjima, Reed. 3B - Bloomquist. HR - Colina, Stewart. SB - Gomez, Finley, Herrera, Bloomquist. S - Morse, Lopez. SF - Spilborghs, Jones.

COLORADO	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	Floyd, L	3	5	6	2	1	1
Francis	4	4	3	3	0	5
UJimenez	2	1	0	0	1	1
Ramirez	1	3	1	1	0	0
Corpas	1	0	0	0	1	2
Speier, W	1	2	1	1	0	0
Arias, S	1	0	0	0	0	1
SEATTLE	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	Weaver	3	3	1	1	0	2
Baek	3	3	1	1	0	2
O'Flaherty	1	0	0	0	0	2
Sherrill	1	2	1	1	0	2
Reitsma	1	2	2	2	0	1
Alvarado, L	1	2	1	1	0	1

HBP - by UJimenez (Ibañez). WP - Alvarado.

T - 2:55. A - 6,455.

Today's games

• Rockies split squad (Jason Hirsh) vs. Chicago White Sox split squad (Mark Buehrle), 1:05 p.m. at Hi Corbett Field (no television; KOA-AM, 850).

• Rockies split squad (Rodrigo Lopez) at San Diego split squad (Chris Young), 1:05 p.m. at Peoria, Ariz. (no television or radio).

etkinj@RockyMountainNews.com Rockies 6, Mariners 5 10 innings

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