Jeff Francis ready for opening day!
Lee Douglas
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -On a day the Colorado Rockies set their rotation, ace Jeff Francis didn't hold anything back.
Francis, the opening day starter, pitched five innings, allowed two earned runs and five hits with two walks while striking out five against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
The D-backs scored nine runs after Francis left the game and won 11-8.
''There's no secret about what I'm out there trying to do,'' Francis said. ''I think they know that. Fastball, curveball changeup - that's it.''
Francis sailed through the first four innings and got two quick outs in the fifth before allowing three consecutive Diamondbacks hits capped by a two-RBI triple by second baseman Orlando Hudson.
''We've seen these guys so much, even during the season sometimes it's back-to-back starts (against the Diamondbacks),'' Francis said. ''There's no secrets anymore. It's just a matter of executing. You try to stay a step ahead.''
He left with a 4-2 lead after five innings, bringing a smile to his manager's face.
''He's ready to go,'' Clint Hurdle said. ''He's making pitches.''
Also for the Rockies, left fielder Matt Holliday hit his third home run of the spring, a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki hit his fifth spring homer, a solo shot in the third.
Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson, still recovering from last year's season-ending back surgery, was roughed up in his outing against Chicago White Sox minor league players.
Johnson threw 73 pitches in 3 1/3 innings, allowing five earned runs and nine hits and two walks. He struck out five. Johnson is expected to start the season on the disabled list and by pitching in a game at a minor league facility where admission is not charged, the Diamondbacks can backdate his placement on the disabled list by nine days.
While the top of the rotation is of little concern for the Rockies, the No. 4 and No. 5 spots in the rotation might be another story. Hurdle said the club will start Francis on opening day, followed by Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez to close out the opening series at St. Louis.
Mark Redman will start the home opener, followed by Francis and then No. 5 starter Franklin Morales.
The ability to split the positioning of the two young hurlers (Morales and Jimenez) with the guy who's had a large volume of innings is important,'' Hurdle said, adding it should be less of a strain on the bullpen.
The odd man out is 31-year-old right-hander Josh Towers, who will be placed on waivers.
On Wednesday, Diamondbacks reliever Juan Cruz blew a save opportunity in the seventh inning when two Rockies runs tied the game 8-8. A three-run top of the eighth for Arizona gave Cruz the win.
He pitched one inning, allowing three hits and a pair of earned runs. Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder was 3-for-3 with two walks with two runs scored and two RBIs.
Alex Romero went 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs.
Rockies reliever Matt Herges got the loss, allowing three earned runs in one inning.
The Rockies play the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon, April 6, on News First Now. Click the "related stories" link on the right for the full schedule of Rockies games.
