(Sports Network) - The Rockies have shown before that they are capable of some late-season magic. However, a sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks this afternoon might be too much for them to recover from.
Arizona will try to sweep Colorado for the first time in almost two years in the finale of a three-game set at Chase Field.
The Rockies have made the postseason in two of the last three seasons, pulling off an incredible late surge in 2007 on the way to a World Series appearance. However, a three-game losing streak currently has them seven games back in the National League Wild Card race.
After losing in extra innings on Friday, the Rockies were dealt a 3-1 setback on Saturday. Justin Upton, who came into the game 0-for-15 lifetime versus Ubaldo Jimenez, hit a two-run homer off the 17-game winner to spark the victory.
"He's got a lot going on in his delivery, he has got electric stuff," Upton said. "I think being aggressive against him is not the right idea. You kind of have to slow it down and get a good pitch and he gave me two good pitches to hit."
Barry Enright pitched 6 2/3 innings to get the win, yielding a run and three hits for the Diamondbacks, have won two in a row since dropping four straight and six of seven. They last swept the Rockies at home from Sept. 26-28, 2008.
Jimenez allowed three runs and three hits over six innings and failed in his third straight bid to notch a MLB-leading 18th victory. He also remained tied with Kevin Ritz (1996), Pedro Astacio (1999) and Jeff Francis (2007) for the most single-season victories in Colorado team history.
"In my opinion, a tough-luck loser in Ubaldo because of the fact that they had one player offensively tonight that he made a couple of mistakes to," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.
Carlos Gonzalez was out of the starting lineup for a third straight game due to a knee injury, but did pinch-hit in the seventh inning. It is unknown when he will return to the starting lineup.
Daniel Hudson seeks a return to the win column today for Arizona.
He won his first three starts since being acquired from the White Sox, yielding four runs over 22 2/3 innings, but fell in defeat to the Reds on Tuesday even though he allowed just three runs on nine hits over seven innings. The 23-year-old righty also struck out a career high 10 batters.
Hudson faces the Rockies for the first time in his career.
Colorado's Jhoulys Chacin makes his second start in place of the injured Francis (left shoulder) this afternoon.
Chacin made 12 starts with the Rockies earlier this year before getting sent to the bullpen and ultimately the minors. Pitching for the first time since July 23 on Tuesday, the right-hander took the loss after allowing five runs on five hits and five walks over five innings of work.
Chacin, who last posted a victory on July 2, fell to 5-9 with a 4.33 earned run average and faces the Diamondbacks for the fourth time this season. In the three previous meetings, including two starts, the 22-year-old is 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA.
Arizona has won four of the past five meetings to gain a 6-5 edge in the season series.