Preview: Rockies at Diamondbacks
Gracenote
Jul 21, 2018
If the first game following the All-Star break is any indication, the National League West battle between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies figures to be a wild one. The teams continue their three-game series in Phoenix on Saturday after combining for 26 hits in Colorado’s 11-10 victory on Friday.
Nolan Arenado belted two home runs and Raimel Tapia blasted a pinch-hit grand slam for Colorado, which has won six straight games and 14 of its last 17 to pull within two games of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Arizona fell 1 1/2 games back of the Dodgers despite five hits from A.J. Pollock, who is hitting .415 with 14 RBIs during his 13-game hitting streak against the Rockies. David Peralta added four hits and Ketel Marte went 3-for-5 with four RBIs for Arizona, which led 8-5 before the Rockies rallied with six runs in the seventh inning against reliever Archie Bradley. Colorado second baseman DJ LeMahieu left the contest before the third inning with a strained oblique and was replaced by Pat Valaika, who is hitting .137 after going hitless in three at-bats.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (8-6, 3.11 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Godley (11-6, 4.61)
Freeland entered the All-Star break on a hot streak, going 8-3 with a 2.59 ERA in his last 15 starts. The 25-year-old native of Denver owns a 1-2 record and 4.07 ERA in five career starts against the Diamondbacks, including a solid outing last Thursday when he allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision. “When he gets to the mound, he’s so competitive, I think he’s turning into a true ace,” Carlos Gonzalez told reporters. “I see that in the future from him.”
Godley tossed six innings of one-run ball in last Friday’s 2-1 victory over Atlanta and has gone 6-1 with a 3.89 ERA and 44 strikeouts over his last seven starts covering 39 1/3 innings. The 28-year-old native of South Carolina has posted a 5-2 record and 3.80 ERA in eight home starts this season. Ian Desmond is 2-for-11 with five strikeouts against Godley, who is 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in four career starts versus Colorado.
WALK-OFFS
1. Peralta is hitting .395 with six homers and 17 RBIs in his last 21 home games.
2. Colorado closer Wade Davis (illness) was unavailable Friday and is listed as day-to-day.
3. Arizona RHP Clay Buchholz (oblique) is set to rejoin the team's rotation on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs.
PREDICTION: Rockies 6, Diamondbacks 5
Gracenote
Jul 21, 2018
If the first game following the All-Star break is any indication, the National League West battle between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies figures to be a wild one. The teams continue their three-game series in Phoenix on Saturday after combining for 26 hits in Colorado’s 11-10 victory on Friday.
Nolan Arenado belted two home runs and Raimel Tapia blasted a pinch-hit grand slam for Colorado, which has won six straight games and 14 of its last 17 to pull within two games of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Arizona fell 1 1/2 games back of the Dodgers despite five hits from A.J. Pollock, who is hitting .415 with 14 RBIs during his 13-game hitting streak against the Rockies. David Peralta added four hits and Ketel Marte went 3-for-5 with four RBIs for Arizona, which led 8-5 before the Rockies rallied with six runs in the seventh inning against reliever Archie Bradley. Colorado second baseman DJ LeMahieu left the contest before the third inning with a strained oblique and was replaced by Pat Valaika, who is hitting .137 after going hitless in three at-bats.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (8-6, 3.11 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Godley (11-6, 4.61)
Freeland entered the All-Star break on a hot streak, going 8-3 with a 2.59 ERA in his last 15 starts. The 25-year-old native of Denver owns a 1-2 record and 4.07 ERA in five career starts against the Diamondbacks, including a solid outing last Thursday when he allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision. “When he gets to the mound, he’s so competitive, I think he’s turning into a true ace,” Carlos Gonzalez told reporters. “I see that in the future from him.”
Godley tossed six innings of one-run ball in last Friday’s 2-1 victory over Atlanta and has gone 6-1 with a 3.89 ERA and 44 strikeouts over his last seven starts covering 39 1/3 innings. The 28-year-old native of South Carolina has posted a 5-2 record and 3.80 ERA in eight home starts this season. Ian Desmond is 2-for-11 with five strikeouts against Godley, who is 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in four career starts versus Colorado.
WALK-OFFS
1. Peralta is hitting .395 with six homers and 17 RBIs in his last 21 home games.
2. Colorado closer Wade Davis (illness) was unavailable Friday and is listed as day-to-day.
3. Arizona RHP Clay Buchholz (oblique) is set to rejoin the team's rotation on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs.
PREDICTION: Rockies 6, Diamondbacks 5