Phoenix, AZ (My Sportsbook) - Randy Johnson will try to lift the spirits of the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks while becoming the first pitcher in the majors to win 24 games when he faces the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a four-game series at Bank One Ballpark.

The Diamondbacks lost on Wednesday despite having Curt Schilling on the mound, suffering a 6-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in the finale of a three-game series.

Matt Williams homered for the Diamondbacks, who have lost a season-high six straight games. Arizona, which has already clinched a playoff berth, had its lead in the National League West shrink to two games over second place San Francisco. The Giants blanked San Diego, 6-0, Wednesday night.

Schilling retired the first nine hitters he faced, striking out seven, but was charged with six runs on six hits in a complete game loss. The hard-throwing righthander struck out 12 and walked just one.

If the teams finish the season with identical records and meet in the playoffs, St. Louis would have the home-field advantage by winning the season series.

Colorado enters tonight's game off a 3-2 setback to the LA Dodgers on Wednesday. Starter Jason Jennings pitched six solid innings for Colorado and helped his cause with an RBI single, but the Rockies had their four-game winning streak snapped.

Jose Jimenez (2-10) was dealt the loss. He allowed two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Jennings allowed one run on five hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out three.

Johnson, who likely needs one more strong performance to maintain the edge for claiming the NL Cy Young award, is 4-0 in his last four starts. The veteran lefthander leads the majors with 326 strikeouts and needs to pitch 7 1/3 innings tonight to match Schilling for the most innings pitched in the majors (258 1/3). Johnson has the lowest ERA in the National League (2.40).

In his last four starts, Johnson has allowed three runs over 32 innings while striking out 41 batters. Last Thursday, he yielded one run on four hits during seven innings in a 3-1 win at San Diego. Johnson has pitched seven innings or more in four consecutive starts.

Against the Rockies this season, he is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in two starts. For his career, he has gone 10-4 with a 2.53 ERA versus Colorado.

At home this year, he is 13-3 with a 2.24 ERA in 20 starts.

Randy Flores counters for the Rockies, making his second career start. The 27- year-old lefty made his first start against Schilling on Friday and surrendered four runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings in a 9-4 win. The former Texas Ranger is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in eight games on the road this season. Tonight is his first road start of the year.

Arizona leads the season series, 10-5, and is 5-1 at home against Colorado this season. Over the past two years, the D'backs are 13-2 versus the Rockies at Bank One Ballpark.