By Owen Perkins / Special to MLB.com
DENVER — When he walked off the field after seven innings of one-run ball, the crowd gave Jeff Francis an ovation almost two years in the making. In his first Major League start since 2008, Francis capped a weekend highlighting the barely tapped potential of the Rockies rotation as it returns to full strength. He left with the game tied, but his club rallied to win the finale, 2-1, and take the series from Washington, three games to one.
The Rockies southpaw looked like vintage Francis on Sunday afternoon, confounding Washington’s batsmen with everything from his 90-mph fastball to a 70-mph curve he used to strike out Nyjer Morgan and kill a seventh-inning rally that threatened the tie at 1. He scattered seven hits — including three infield hits — and walked two while striking out six. Read more HERE.
