Rockies-Giants Preview

The Colorado Rockies have won on the road for the first time in September. Set to face Jonathan Sanchez and the San Francisco Giants, they have an excellent opportunity to build some momentum away from Coors Field.

Trying to win their first road series since their last visit to AT&T Park, the Rockies look to rough up Sanchez for the second time in a week when the teams continue a three-game set Wednesday night.

Colorado (72-85) snapped a five-game road losing streak Tuesday night, beating San Francisco (70-87) and Cy Young Award hopeful Tim Lincecum 9-4 in the opener of this series.

A win Wednesday would give the Rockies a series win outside Coors Field for the first time since winning two of three games at San Francisco from Aug. 25-27.

Colorado's pitchers were largely at fault for the road losing streak, posting a 6.86 ERA. But the Rockies also struggled at the plate, hitting .243 and averaging 3.6 runs.

Colorado, though, scored six runs in 4 1-3 innings against Lincecum, had two players with at least three hits and will now try to saddle Sanchez (9-11, 4.71 ERA) with yet another poor performance. Sanchez was reached for six runs and six hits in 3 2-3 innings in a 7-6 loss to Arizona last Wednesday.

Sanchez has lasted less than four innings three times this season. He is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA in his last six starts at home, and 1-7 with a 6.61 ERA in his last 10 outings overall.

The left-hander is 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA in four starts against the Colorado this season, and 1-1 with a 6.35 ERA in five starts and 12 lifetime appearances against the Rockies.

Colorado will counter with Livan Hernandez (2-3, 8.37 ERA), who is coming off his best start since joining Colorado. He allowed three hits in five innings as the Rockies beat San Diego 1-0 on Wednesday.

The veteran right-hander went 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA in his previous five starts.

Hernandez is 0-1 with a 4.63 ERA in two starts versus the Giants this season, and 3-5 with a 3.18 ERA in 14 career outings against them.

With Hernandez prone to getting hit hard, Colorado may need another big game at the plate to have a chance to win.

Rockies prospect Sean Smith was one of the hitting stars Tuesday. Making his fifth start in center field, Smith had three hits -- including a home run -- and drove in two runs for the Rockies.

Smith is 5-for-9 in his last two games after a 2-for-21 (.095) slump.

"I haven't established anything yet but getting a chance to play is fun," Smith said. "Starting is what everybody wants to do."

Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, meanwhile, went 4-for-5 with a solo home run and three RBIs. Tulowitzki, hampered by injuries this season after hitting 24 home runs last year, is batting .404 (19-for-47) in his last 12 games.

San Francisco got RBIs from Aaron Rowand, Omar Vizquel and Randy Winn, but left eight runners on base en route to losing for the sixth time in eight games. The Giants also struck out 11 times, and are averaging 8.0 in 16 games versus the Rockies this season.