Rockies take on Rodriguez, Astros in finale at Coors

The Colorado Rockies reportedly claimed Wandy Rodriguez on hand look at him when game set with the Rockies at Coors Field.

Rodriguez will be making his 200th appearance with the Astros today, but it could be his last, as the Rockies have until Thursday afternoon to complete a deal for the left-hander. The Astros could also just let him go to Colorado in exchange for $20,000 or pull him back from waivers.

"It's hard, because I'm thinking about what's going on with me right now, if they're going to trade me, or do I stay," Rodriguez said. "They [might] make a decision today or tomorrow. Maybe tonight, because I'm pitching tomorrow. This is hard, pitching tomorrow, because I don't know what's going on with me."

One of the more sought after starters at the non-waiver trade deadline, Rodriguez is 9-9 this season with a 3.31 ERA. He beat the San Francisco Giants in his last start, scattering five hits over eight scoreless innings. He also struck out eight in the win.

Rodriguez has faced the Rockies 10 times and is 4-3 against them with a 4.25 ERA.

Colorado will counter with righty Aaron Cook, who is 3-7 with a 5.23 ERA. Cook beat the Florida Marlins last Wednesday, limiting them to three runs and nine hits in 7 2/3 innings.

He is 4-1 lifetime against the Astros with a 3.70 ERA in 10 games, nine of which have been starts.

On Tuesday, Jonathan Herrera hit the go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning, boosting Colorado to an 8-6 win.

Seth Smith added a 478-foot homer for the Rockies, who have taken the first two of this three-game series and have won four in a row for the first time since June 14-18. Colorado is now 8 1/2 games back Arizona in the National League West.

"We just need to keep coming out here and playing solid baseball and win baseball games," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "The number is 8 1/2, but the door is cracked a little bit."

Carlos Lee and Johnny Paredes went deep for the Astros, who have lost three straight after winning four in a row.

Jordan Schafer singled in Jason Michaels in the top of the seventh to forge a 6-6 game, but Smith walked leading off the bottom half against Fernando Rodriguez (2-2). Herrera, who came into Tuesday hitting just .172 at Coors Field, got a hold of a 2-1 pitch and homered to right field.

Matt Belisle fanned the final two batters of a 1-2-3 top of the eighth, and Rex Brothers escaped a jam in the ninth to record his first big league save.

Houston starter Bud Norris gave up six hits and five runs -- four earned -- over five innings. Alex White, who made his Rockies debut, lasted six innings, allowing seven hits and five runs.

Houston won four of six from the Rockies last season.