There couldn’t be a worse time for the Colorado Rockies to go on a losing streak. After battling back to within half a game of first place in the division, the Rockies have now dropped three games in a row, including two losses to the Arizona Diamondbacks, one of the worst teams in baseball.

The problems over the last two nights in Phoenix are a microcosm of the Rockies’ road woes this season. On Tuesday night, Colorado got quality starting pitching but could muster just one run in a 3-1 loss. Last night, the Rockies jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez lost command of his tosses, and the Rockies ended up losing 8-4 (recap via The Denver Post). Part of the problem is a lack of offense from the team’s big dogs, Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. MLB.com notes that CarGo may have an excuse, as he’s battling a sore right wrist.

“We started out exactly the way we wanted, but we all took a step back when it became apparent that Ubaldo wasn’t himself tonight,” manager Jim Tracy told the Post after the game. “I can’t put my finger on it, but mechanically he was out of whack.” The Rockies’ ace failed to get his 20th win, a remarkable fact considering he was 15-1 at the All Star break. The Post notes he’s gone 4-6 since then, and any hope of the National League Cy Young Award, given to the league’s best pitcher, is likely gone.

Also disappearing are the Rockies’ chances for playoff baseball. The San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers last night, putting the Rockies three games back in both the NL West and the NL wild-card race. With 11 games left in the season, time is running out to make up ground. But, the San Francisco Giants, a team the Rockies trail in the division, are coming to town for three games this weekend.