Colorado @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2012 ) Colorado 3, St. Louis 9

The St. Louis Cardinals have won nine of their last 11 against the Colorado Rockies heading into the second of a four-game series on Tuesday. In Monday’s 9-3 win at Busch Stadium, first baseman Allen Craig homered twice, giving him four homers and eight RBIs in the last four games.

Carlos Beltran, Matt Holliday and Jon Jay are also hot, making St. Louis’ lineup a minefield for opposing pitchers. In fact, Beltran has driven in a run in each of his last nine games, the longest such streak in baseball. The Rockies have dropped three straight, scoring seven total runs in the skid.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS-M, ROOT

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Jeff Francis (1-1, 5.47 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Joe Kelly (1-0, 3.38 ERA)

Francis has a 1.69 ERA over his last three starts. He tossed six scoreless innings against the Padres last time out. Francis loves facing the Cardinals, having gone 5-1 with a 3.05 ERA in 10 career appearances. Yadier Molina is 2-for-17 against him and Beltran is just 3-for-13, but Rafael Furcal is 9-for-28 (.321).

The rookie Kelly has gone exactly six innings in each of his last two starts, allowing a total of five earned runs. While batters are hitting .318 against him, Kelly has survived by not walking many (four in 21 1/3 innings) and by stranding baserunners. This is his fifth start. Kelly is also a capable hitter: he drove in a 10th-inning run a week ago against Miami.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Holliday has 16 RBIs in his last 15 games.

2. St. Louis veteran first baseman Lance Berkman took a few swings and did some running Monday. It was his first time at Busch Stadium since he tore his meniscus on May 19.

3. Rockies RF Tyler Colvin has nine RBIs in his last six games after hitting a two-run homer Monday.