(Sports Network) - The defending National League champion Colorado Rockies will try to end a five-game skid tonight, when they host the Atlanta Braves in the opener of a four-game series at Coors Field.

The Rockies went on a magical run to close out last season, winning 13 of their final 14 games before beating San Diego in a one-game playoff for the NL wild card spot. Colorado then posted a pair of postseason sweeps over Philadelphia and Arizona to reach the World Series, where it was quickly swept by Boston.

The Rockies then opened this season with a win over St. Louis last Tuesday, but have since been outscored 31-8 over their losing streak. Star players Matt Holliday (.182), Troy Tulowitzki (.192) and Brad Hawpe (.211) are all struggling at the plate, with Todd Helton (.320, 2 homers) being the lone exception.

Colorado's bullpen cost the club a win on Sunday. Holding a 1-0 lead thanks to a run-scoring single by Helton in the third inning, closer Manny Corpas gave up a two-run homer to Arizona's Mark Reynolds in the ninth inning to put the Rockies down a run.

Holliday's first homer of the season in the bottom of the frame forced extra innings, but Micah Bowie (0-1) and Ryan Speier combined to allow three runs and four hits in the top of the 10th in a 5-2 setback to the Diamondbacks.

Aaron Cook will be given the task of ending Colorado's losing streak, though it will take his first career win over Atlanta to do so. The right-handed Cook is 0-1 with a 5.68 earned run average in seven career games (5 starts) against the Braves.

He faced Atlanta twice last year, earning a pair of no decisions.

Cook, 29, made his season debut on Wednesday and received a loss by allowing four runs on six hits over six frames of an 8-3 defeat against the Cardinals.

The Braves have won two in a row following a sweep of their weather-shortened series with the New York Mets. Atlanta pounded the Mets, 11-5, on Saturday after Friday's opener was rained out, then squeezed out a 3-1 victory yesterday.

John Smoltz made his first start of the season on Sunday after beginning the year on the disabled list due to shoulder stiffness. Throwing on a pitch count, Smoltz (1-0) allowed just two hits over five shutout innings to go along with six strikeouts.

Blaine Boyer, Will Ohman and Peter Moylan each hurled an inning of scoreless relief for Atlanta. Rafael Soriano then got his first save of the season despite allowing a run in the ninth.

Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer in the game, while Yunel Escobar also drove in a run.

After spending his last five years with the Mets, Tom Glavine got a no decision his first start of the season with Atlanta last Monday. Glavine, who pitched with the Braves from 1987-2002, gave up just two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits over five innings of Atlanta's eventual 12-11 setback to Pittsburgh.

The 42-year-old left-hander is 11-6 with a 3.07 ERA in 28 career starts against the Rockies, but hasn't beaten them since a two-hit shutout in New York on September 29, 2005. He struck out 11 batters in that game.

The Braves won four of six versus the Rockies last year, but have lost four of their last six in Colorado.