(Sports Network) - The host Colorado Rockies can make it three straight in
suddenly potent offensive style tonight when the Chicago Cubs head to Coors
Field for the second of three games.

Colorado, which had lost eight straight before Thursday, made it two in a row
in Friday's opener when Carlos Gonzalez went 4-for-6 with a home run, three
runs scored and two RBI and the Rockies scored 12 times with two outs in the
eighth inning to pull away from Chicago, 17-2.

The Rockies batted around twice in an eighth that saw them set club marks for
runs (12) and hits (13) and the MLB record for consecutive hits (11), all
while stranding the bases loaded.

"I've never seen an inning like that. We had two outs and two strikes on a
hitter and they scored 12 runs. I've never seen anything like that," Chicago
manager Lou Piniella said. "I feel bad for my pitchers."

Dexter Fowler had three hits, a home run and two RBI, while Ian Stewart
homered and drove in three for the Rockies.

Jeff Francis (4-3) was efficient in a six-inning start, allowing two runs on
four hits and a walk while striking out five to pick up the win.

Ryan Dempster (8-8) lasted only four-plus frames for the Cubs, surrendering
five runs on seven hits and five walks in the club's third straight loss.

Towering right-hander Jason Hammel, who stands 6-foot-6, takes the mound for
the hosts with an aim to end a three-start skid.

The former 10th-round pick of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays was 7-3 on the season
after a 4-2 win over San Diego on July 10, but has since dropped road
decisions at Cincinnati, at Florida and at Philadelphia.

He returns home to Coors Field, where he is 6-1 this season in 10 starts with
a 3.18 earned run average in 62 1/3 innings.

Hammel has made one career start against the Cubs and earned a win with five
innings of three-run ball with no walks and four strikeouts.

Chicago goes with lefty Tom Gorzelanny, who's won four straight starts.

The 28-year-old Illinois native recorded a save in a bullpen stint on June 24
and went 3 1/3 innings in a relief role a day later, then transitioned back to
starting with five scoreless innings against Pittsburgh on June 30.

He's started and won four times since, defeating Arizona, the Los Angeles
Dodgers, Philadelphia and St. Louis while allowing 23 hits and 11 runs in 23
2/3 innings.

Gorzelanny, who is 3-2 away from home in 2010, is 1-2 in three lifetime starts
against the Rockies with a 10.80 ERA.

Chicago swept a two-game set from the Rockies at Wrigley Field from May 17-18,
but lost three of four games between the teams held at Coors Field last
season.