DENVER -- Zach Duke was strong early, but ended up clobbered for nine runs in five-plus innings of the Pirates' 11-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies this afternoon, one that completed a four-game sweep, extended a five-game losing streak and dropped the overall record to a season-low 10 games under .500, at 44-54.

It is a nosedive remarkably reminiscent of the 0-7 emergence from the All-Star break last summer.

"It's last year all over again," first baseman Adam LaRoche said. "We're doing the same thing. I don't know why it happens."

"We'll come out of it," manager John Russell said. "We're not going to panic."

Duke gave up 10 hits, including two home runs, and six others for extra bases. His record fell to 4-7, and his ERA, thanks to 20 runs in his past three starts, is up to 4.92.

The Pirates' offense made a brief reappearance at the outset, swinging freely against All-Star Aaron Cook and scoring three times on as many hits including RBIs for Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche.

After that, the equipment staff could get a head start on packing the bats for Houston: The Pirates, following a series-long trend, mustered just two hits after that. That gave them a total of one run beyond the third inning for the series.

The Rockies outscored the Pirates, 28-9, for the series.

Duke needed just 38 pitches to retire his first nine batters, three by swinging strikeouts, but that blew apart in a big way: Jeff Baker broke through in the fourth on an infield single, a roller up the middle that shortstop Jack Wilson did not field cleanly. Matt Holliday doubled him home, and Chris Iannetti drove in Holliday to make it 3-2.

The Rockies kept launching in the next inning to burst ahead, 6-3: Clint Barmes tripled, Ian Stewart doubled and, one out later, Jeff Baker and Matt Holliday went deep on consecutive pitches, the first an elevated fastball, the other a hanging curve.

Duke went back out for the sixth but failed to record an out. Two doubles and a single, and manager John Russell removed him.

Russell and pitching coach Jeff Andrews had arranged the post-break rotation to give Duke nine days' rest, with an aim of reviving his arm.

"I brought the ball up, and you can't do that against hitters like that," Duke said. "But I know what the good feeling was early on, and I can take that."

After the game, the Pirates recalled John Van Benschoten to pitch tonight. A corresponding move will come tomorrow.

More details in tomorrow's Post-Gazette.