Rox try to avoid dubious mark in finale with Dodgers

Kevin Millwood takes a third crack at win No. 1 this game series at Coors Field.

He will also be trying to help the Rockies avoid a an MLB-record 18th straight loss on a Sunday.

Since winning its first two Sunday games, Colorado became the first team in the modern era to drop 17 straight - matching the St. Louis Browns' record set June 19-Oct. 9, 1898 - with last weeks' 6-2 loss to the Cardinals.

"I cannot make sense of it," Colorado first baseman Todd Helton said. "It's beyond coincidence, I guess. I don't know. Crazy."

After losing his first start in Cincinnati, Millwood did not get a decision on Monday against Florida, as he allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings. He also surrendered two home runs in his team's 7-4 win and has given up five in his two starts, while pitching to a 4.86 earned run average.

"Just another very, very competitive outing for us," Tracy said of Millwood. "He kept us in the game. He gave us a chance to win the game, which eventually, obviously, we did."

Millwood has faced the Dodgers nine times and is 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA against them. This, though, will be his first appearance against them since 2002.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, will counter with righty Chad Billingsley, who is 10-9 with a 4.04 ERA. Billingsley did not get a decision on Tuesday in Milwaukee despite a solid outing that saw him yield a run and four hits in seven innings of a 2-1 loss.

"I've been struggling lately with my rhythm," said Billingsley, who retired 14 of the final 15 batters he faced. "The first couple innings I was trying to find it, and I was able to get it there in the middle of the game a little bit, get in a good rhythm and make pitches."

Billingsley lost to the Rockies the last time he faced them and is 3-6 lifetime against them with a 5.40 ERA in 14 games, 12 of which have been starts.

The Rockies evened this series at a game apiece on Saturday, as Dexter Fowler knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 13th inning with a sharp single to left, propelling Colorado to a dramatic 7-6 victory.

After the first two batters made outs, Mark Ellis ripped a double into the right-center field gap off Blake Hawksworth (2-4) and Fowler followed with his hit to win it in walkoff fashion.

"It's awesome," Fowler said. "Especially in the 13th inning. It showed the character of the team, the way we came back and battled."

J.C. Romero (1-0) tossed a scoreless top of the 13th to earn the win.

Helton launched a home run on his 38th birthday and Eric Young Jr. collected a triple and an RBI for the Rockies, winners in three of their last five games.

The Dodgers have lost four of six.

Los Angeles has split its 14 games this season with Colorado.