(My Sportsbook) - The Colorado Rockies are an impressive 29-13 at home this season, but just 12-26 on the road. The disparity has left managers, players, and followers of the club perplexed all year long, but it seems that maybe, just maybe the Rockies have finally figured it out.

Colorado had not won a road series the entire season until they took two out of three against the lowly Tigers early this month. Then the unthinkable happened, as the team was able to take two of three in another series against the Tigers and followed by doing the same thing in a recently completed three- game set with Padres.

The successive road series victories were the first for the club since the opening week of May in 2002.

What a difference a month has made, as the team also recorded three consecutive road wins during a recent stretch. It was a feat they previously accomplished just once this season, when they defeated the Dodgers and Giants in consecutive road games near the end of May.

The tell tale sign that maybe the jinx or hex that has been following this squad was finally lifted came during Tuesday's contest when Darren Oliver took the mound.

Oliver, a player rarely known for his consistency, has gone 4-0 with an ERA of just 3.08 in his six starts at Coors Field. On the road, the 11-year veteran was 0-5 with a 6.91 ERA prior to Tuesday.

However, Oliver's luck finally changed on Tuesday, allowing just one earned run and four hits in six innings of action against the Padres, helping him record his first road victory and fifth overall.

"Today was pitching to the bats," Oliver said in the Denver Post following the game. "They were hitting balls right at people. It's good I happened to get a win on the road. Maybe you guys will get off me for a while."

The opponents (Detroit and San Diego) that the Rockies have beaten to get back on track when playing on the road haven't been the highest level of competition, but sometimes you have to crawl before you can learn to walk.

A Colorado team that could win consistently on the road would be a squad that could shake up the NL West standings and make an immediate splash in the playoff picture. This Rocky Mountain bunch is now two games above .500 and has won six of its last eight games, vaulting the team just 6 1/2 games behind the Giants in the NL West standings and only 5 1/2 games behind the Dodgers for NL Wild Card race.

WHO'S HOT

Outfielder Larry Walker has been red hot during the month of June and has batted .450 with two homers and five RBI in his last seven games.

Todd Helton remains a consistent Triple Crown threat and over his last seven contests has hit .393 with four RBI and 10 runs scored.

Shawn Chacon has won seven of his last eight starts and is the only player in the National League with 11 wins this season.

WHO'S NOT

Jose Jimenez is the Rockies closer by default but that could change soon, as he has an ERA of 7.84 in the month of June and has been hit up for three earned runs two separate times in his last five appearances.

COMING UP

The Rockies have an off-day today and will resume play on Friday, when they take on the Pirates at PNC Park. On Monday they will battle the red hot Arizona Diamondbacks in the first contest of a four-game NL West battle at Coors Field.