Rockies vie to stop slide against Angels

(SportsNetwork.com) - No team needed a day off more than the Colorado Rockies.

Following an off day on Monday the Rockies try to snap a nine-game losing streak Tuesday when they start a brief two-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium.

Colorado's woes continued this weekend, as it was swept in a weather-altered, two-game set by the Los Angles Dodgers.

The slide is tied for the fourth-longest in franchise history and it is Colorado's worst since a nine-gamer from Sept. 15-23, 2012.

"I'm trying to sit in my chair right here and think of one positive thing, and there's not many," Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said after Sunday's 9-5 loss. "It's tough, but what are you going to do?"

At 11-17, the Rockies are last in the National League West. They last won on April 27, 5-4 at Arizona.

"It's been a tough week," said Rockies manager Walt Weiss, whose team dealt with three rainouts and played just three full games and one rain-shortened affair of the scheduled six on the homestand. "Hopefully, the tide will turn."

It may not turn, at least on Tuesday, as the Rockies turn to righty Kyle Kendrick, who has been awful since a spectacular outing on Opening Day. Kendrick tossed seven scoreless innings his first time out, but has given up at least four in five starts since and has surrendered six or more in four of those outings.

Kendrick, who hasn't pitched since May 3, is 1-4 on the year with an 8.73 ERA.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, will hand the ball to lefty C.J. Wilson, who is 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA. He has allowed two runs or less in five of his six starts this season, and in each of his past four.

In his last start, Wednesday against the Mariners, Wilson took a seven-inning no-decision, allowing two earned runs on seven hits.

Los Angeles comes into this one after splitting a four-game set with the upstart Houston Astros. The Angels avoided a series loss on Sunday, as Garrett Richards flirted with a no-hitter in an outstanding 6 2/3-inning effort that led them to a 3-1 win.

Houston's lone hit of the day came on Jason Castro's single off Richards with one out in the seventh. Ten Astros struck out against the standout righty in the most impressive of his five starts since returning from knee surgery.

"My stuff is getting better," Richards said. "I'm attacking hitters. I'm moving in the right direction."

The Angels have beaten Colorado five straight times, but the teams haven't met since 2012.