=== Colorado Rockies Team Report - August 20 ===

(My Sportsbook) - Jay Payton and the Colorado Rockies will try to continue to play the role of spoiler, as they take on the Florida Marlins tonight in the middle contest of a three-game series at Coors Field.

Payton went 4-for-4 with a homer and three runs batted in, leading the Rockies to a 10-2 rout last night. Larry Walker also homered and Denny Stark pitched seven strong innings to get the win for Colorado, which snapped a five-game skid and won for only the second time in 10 games.

Payton matched a single-season best for homers, as he also hit 17 in 2000 with the Mets. He is 9-for-15 in four games against the Marlins this year.

The Rockies are hanging by a thread in the wild card chase, as they are nine games behind the Phillies.

Darren Oliver, who has lost two straight starts, will pitch tonight for the Rockies. The southpaw hasn't lost three straight starts since May 21 - June 1, 2002. He lost on Friday to the Mets, surrendering five hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings. Prior to this recent stretch, Oliver had gone 7-1 in his previous nine starts. He is 5-1 with a 4.15 ERA at home this year and 6-1 lifetime at Coors.

Oliver will make his second start this year versus Florida, as he had a no decision in a 5-4 Marlins win on May 9 at Pro Player Stadium. Oliver is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in four career starts against the Marlins.

Colorado, which began a season-long nine-game homestand last night, is 42-19 at Coors Field.

The Rockies have won eight of the last nine versus Florida at Coors Field.

The Rockies have scored at least one run in a major league record 347 consecutive home games. The last opponent to blank the Rockies in Denver was the San Diego Padres on July 4, 1999, when Andy Ashby tossed the shutout.