NEW YORK -- Rockies pitchers Jeff Francis, Matt Belisle and Rafael Betancourt set a franchise record by striking out seven straight batters against the Mets in Wednesday night's 6-2 victory.

The Rockies' previous record was five in a row.

The flurry between the sixth and eighth innings also tied the Mets' record for strikeouts. They fanned seven straight times on Aug. 23, 1970, and Oct. 3, 1972.

Cook working on consistency during rehab

NEW YORK -- Rockies organization pitching coaches Bryan Harvey and Marcel Lachemann are leading the project of straightening out right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook at Double-A Tulsa.

Cook (4-8, 5.34 ERA) is on the disabled list with a sprained right big toe, but is in greater need of strike-zone consistency. On Tuesday, he threw the first of three scheduled bullpen sessions with Harvey, the Tulsa pitching coach, and Lachemann, a front-office special assistant and longtime Major League pitching coach, watching.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy said Cook will not be on a low pitch count when the Rockies determine he is ready for game action. That's important, since he won't have to rebuild his arm. He can return from his assignment when his foot and his pitching motion have healed.

"He's not going to be deconditioned to where he couldn't throw 75-80 pitches," Tracy said. "We'll see how that thing goes."

Rox 'Celebrate' Giambi's veteran presence

NEW YORK -- After a short night's sleep, the Rockies began arriving at Citi Field two hours before Thursday's 12:10 p.m. ET start time for the game against the Mets. As soon as shortstop Troy Tulowitzki walked into the clubhouse, he was greeted by Madonna's "Holiday" at high volume.

Tulowitzki screamed, then smiled. The sudden volume was a shock to the system, but the music selection wasn't.

Every Rockies game is a flashback to 1983, even if many of the Rockies were not born or were just making their arrivals. Madonna's Greatest Hits blare before every game and after wins, throughout a road trip that ends with Thursday afternoon's game against the Mets.

It takes a veteran to make such a decision, and this one is the product of Jason Giambi. The inspiration was practical. The Rockies needed to improve on the road. Heading into Thursday with a 3-3 record, they can say it's worked. Colorado is 23-35 overall on the road.

"I'll do anything for these young kids, and make it fun," said Giambi, who's actually met Madonna. "We've got enough pressure on ourselves to play on the road.

"We kind of sat around saying, 'What's the difference between home and road?' and one of them said, 'We listen to Madonna all the time at home.' All right."

So in Pittsburgh last week, Giambi sent one of the visiting clubhouse attendants at PNC Park out to track down the CD.

"It's been doing all right," Giambi said.

Usually, it plays while the team is stretching. But it couldn't wait that long on Thursday.

"It definitely wakes you up," Tulowitzki said.

Mora gets start at first in finale with Mets

NEW YORK -- After hitting the game-turning grand slam in Wednesday night's 6-2 victory over the Mets, the ever-smiling, ever-talking Melvin Mora received a start at first base for the series finale.

Mora, 38, never started a game at first until this year, and he struggled initially. But Thursday was his ninth start there, and he's become increasingly comfortable. Plus, it's a chance to meet people.

"I don't want anybody from the other team to get to first base, but when they do, you meet a lot of friends there," Mora said.

With Todd Helton resting after a night game, Mora is in the lineup for his bat, especially with runners on base. Mora has hit a healthy .273 with runners in scoring position and .280 with runners in scoring position and two out. In addition, he is 4-for-6 with 14 RBIs with the bases loaded.

"That's why I've survived as many years in this sport -- I like to drive in runs, especially with bases loaded," Mora said. "I learned from [former Mariners star] Edgar Martinez. When I played against him, I'd go to the batting cage and we'd talk. He told me, 'The pressure isn't on you, it's on the pitcher. He doesn't want to walk you, so just hit it. Wherever the ball goes, it goes.'"