(Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers will try for a series split with the Colorado Rockies this afternoon, when the two ballclubs close out a four-game series at Miller Park.

Milwaukee has lost two of the first three meetings with Colorado, including Wednesday's 8-3 setback that pushed the Brewers five games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Ace Ben Sheets allowed five hits and three runs through six innings and absorbed the loss despite posting a season-high 11 K's. Sheets took the hill one day after newly-acquired starter CC Sabathia won his National League debut for the Brewers.

Bill Hall homered, while Russell Branyan and Mike Cameron each recorded an RBI in Wednesday's defeat. Milwaukee is 4-2 so far on a 10-game homestand and 29-15 at Miller Park this season.

Even though Dave Bush didn't win his last start, he will try to duplicate his efforts again this afternoon versus Colorado. Bush hurled eight strong innings of one-run, four-hit ball the last time out on Saturday versus Pittsburgh for the no-decision. The Brewers won the game, 2-1.

Bush is 0-1 in two starts since a personal two-game winning streak. He is also 4-8 with a 4.74 earned run average in 17 starts (16 games) this season.

The righty squared off at Colorado's Coors Field on June 7 this season and suffered the loss. Bush was touched for five runs and five hits in four frames of a 7-2 loss. He is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts in this series.

With last night's 8-3 triumph in the third test of this series, Colorado improved to 7-2 over its last nine games. Starter Glendon Rusch allowed five hits and one run with four strikeouts over six innings to post a win as a starter for the first time since July 9, 2006 as a member of the Cubs.

Garrett Atkins clubbed a pair of homers and Joe Koshansky belted a two-run shot for the defending National League champions, who are 2-1 on a seven-game road trip and 14-32 as the guest this season.

The Rockies will send Jorge De La Rosa to the hill on Thursday, and he is 3-4 with a 6.58 ERA in 13 games (10 starts) this season. De La Rosa is 2-1 over his previous eight trips to the hill, having beaten Florida on July 5 with five innings of three-run ball during a 12-6 triumph.

The left-hander, who is 0-3 on the road this season, will face Milwaukee for the second time this season. On June 7 versus the Brewers, De La Rosa did not factor in the outcome of a 7-2 win after hurling a perfect inning of relief.

De La Rosa is 0-1 with a 10.50 ERA in two career games (one start) against Milwaukee.

Colorado won two of three games versus the Brewers at home from June 6-8, and has won eight of the last 12 meetings in the series.