As the starters make their fourth turn through the rotation, one glaring number speaks to the Rockies’ woeful start. They are 1-7 in games started by Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez, their Nos. 1 and 2 starters.

Cook was spared a decision Friday when the Rockies fell 6-5 to the Dodgers at Coors Field. Jimenez was less fortunate and less effective in a second successive 6-5 loss to the Dodgers.

Jimenez gave up six runs, all with two out, in four innings, extending his losing streak and his malaise to three starts. After giving up eight hits and six runs in four innings and throwing 91 pitches, 51 strikes, while walking four, striking out three and hitting one batter, Jimenez has a 12.00 ERA in his past three starts, a gruesome stretch in which he has allowed 19 hits 16 runs and more walks (14) than strikeouts (11) in 12 innings.

“The consistency isn’t there,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “The fastball command isn’t there.”

Just what the affable and accountable Jimenez thought of his outing is unknown. He was gone from the clubhouse when it opened to the media, something that had never happened before.

Jimenez gave up a single on a swinging bunt to Rafael Furcal to open the game. Third baseman Garrett Atkins might have had a better chance to Furcal, but Jimenez came off the mound and fielded the ball but threw too late to get Furcal.

Jimenez then got Orlando Hudson to pop out and Manny Ramirez to fly out. He had thrown eight pitches. Before the inning was over, the Dodgers would bat around and score four runs and push Jimenez’s pitch count to 30.

Furcal stole second while Jimenez was pitching to Andre Ethier, who singled to center. James Loney doubled to left, the first of four successive opposite-field hits off Jimenez, the last three being singles by Russell Martin, Matt Kemp and Casey Blake before pitcher James McDonald struck out.

Jimenez gave up a leadoff walk to Furcal in the second but retired the next three batters. He hit Kemp with a 1-1 pitch with two out in the third and intentionally walked Blake to get to McDonald, who grounded out.
But Jimenez found more two-out trouble in the fourth, when Hudson doubled with one out, Ethier was walked intentionally with two out after Jimenez fell behind 2-0, Loney walked to load the bases and Martin delivered a two-run single.

“He’s not where he needs to be,” Hurdle said of Jimenez. “He loves to compete. He didn’t want to come out. But at that time….we’re six runs on the board and eight hits. So he’s not hitting his spots, not commanding the secondary stuff also, so it’s a battle for him right now.”

And a huge battle for the Rockies what with Jimenez and Cook sputtering given their other troubles _ a .239 batting average, 76 runs scored in 16 games and .236 average with runners in scoring position.

The Rockies began the season with Jason Marquis slotted third in their rotation. He’s a quintessential fifth starter. Never mind that right now, Marquis is the only starter to win a game since April 10. He won that day _ against the Phillies in the home opener _ and April 15 at Chicago. And Marquis will start today as the Rockies try to avoid getting swept in a three-game series by the Dodgers in successive weekends.

Jorge De La Rosa has pitched reasonably well in his past two starts. Franklin Morales did fine in his first start and after a brief stay at Triple-A Colorado Springs had to leave his second start in the third inning with a shoulder injury.

These things happen and can’t be predicted. But the Rockies were rather certain they could count on Cook and Jimenez to be consistent and dependable. And certainly they still might be, despite a tandem swoon as April winds down.

A scout who saw them both against the Dodgers said Cook’s sinker is flat and very hittable and far from vintage. As for Jimenez, the scout said his mechanics are out of whack with his arm dragging behind his body or, depending on how you want to look at it, his body moving too fast and getting ahead of his arm. The result is an inconsistent delivery and release point.

“He’s looked at the video,” Hurdle said. “He’s worked hard on the side to try to get it back in play. Sometimes the game gets in the way and you’re not able to repeat things.

You saw (catcher Yorvit Torrealba) backhanding balls. We’re not just missing. At times, we’re missing extreme.”

Jimenez threw seven scoreless innings and held the Diamondbacks to three hits April 7 while winning his first start of the season 3-0 at Chase Field. So it’s not like he has to harken back to last year for success. His next start will come Friday against the Giants at AT&T Park where Jimenez has made two starts and is 1-0 with a 3.97 ERA.

What Jimenez has done there or anywhere in the past is irrelevant. Immediacy is what matters for him and the Rockies at this point.

“I believe it’s one of those challenges for him,” Hurdle said. “It’s time for him to just accept it, ‘OK, this is what I’ve been. How do I get back to what I can be?’ Take the next step. There’s no bad luck involved. These are things he can control and get back in place. He can be very productive out there and very good.”

For the Rockies, that can’t happen soon enough.