PHILADELPHIA – Looking sleepy from an overnight flight, but apparently undaunted by the task ahead, Rockies left-hander Jeff Francis said Tuesday he’s eager to start today’s Game 1 of the National League division series.
“Being my first postseason game, I’m just going to try to get myself ready for the excitement and the hype and not be surprised,” Francis said.
Francis matched a club record with 17 victories, but faces a Phillies lineup that battered him this season. Philadelphia hit .465 against Francis in his two starts, marking him with an unsightly 15.12 ERA by cranking out 14 earned runs and 20 hits in only 8 1/3 innings.
“That lineup, it doesn’t seem like there’s a break,” Francis said. “The last time I faced them, (Shane) Victorino wasn’t even in the lineup, and it still seemed that right up to the pitcher’s spot, there wasn’t a break.”
Francis said how he fares doesn’t matter as long as the Rockies win.
“If I do what I do and our offense does what they can do, and we win 10-9, it’s the same to me as winning 4-3,” he said.
Maybe so, but after the Rockies emptied their bullpen Monday night in their 13-inning victory over the Padres, Francis must give the Rockies some quality innings. That didn’t happen Sept. 13 in a game at Philadelphia. That night, Francis got shelled for eight runs in 3 1/3 innings.
“It’s no secret they’ve got a great offense,” Francis said. “It’s a matter if I go out and execute. The two games I faced them, I didn’t execute well. I walked a lot of guys and left some balls up.
“It might be a big scoring game, but I’m confident our offense can back us up and take a little of the pressure off me.”
Apparently, the Phillies are thinking the same thing.
“If you’re not careful, either one of these teams can put some runs on you in a hurry, and that can dictate the game,” Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said.
After the pounding against Philly, Francis rebounded in his next start to shut down the Dodgers 3-1, with a career-high 10 strikeouts. At that time, the Rockies’ postseason hopes were hanging by a thread. They went on to sweep the Dodgers and begin their improbable playoff run.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
