Rockies at Padres
Following an uncharacteristically slow start at the plate, the Colorado Rockies are showing signs of emerging from their slumber. Slugger Nolan Arenado has homered in back-to-back contests for the Rockies, who aim for a sweep of their brief two-game series against the host San Diego Padres on Tuesday.
Ian Desmond broke out of a lengthy slump with a home run, a double and three RBIs in Monday’s 5-2 victory as Colorado won its second straight following an eight-game losing streak. Rockies manager Bud Black is exercising patience with versatile rookie Garrett Hampson, who is batting .176 with two extra-base hits but extended his hitting streak to six games with a first-inning single in Monday’s win. San Diego has lost two straight but received a boost in the series opener from Wil Myers, who hit his 100th career homer after dealing with a sore left thumb over the weekend. Franmil Reyes also went deep while Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Austin Hedges added two hits apiece for the Padres, who enjoyed a 7-3 road trip before starting an eight-game homestand on Monday.
TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Gray (0-3, 4.19 ERA) vs. Padres LH Nick Margevicius (1-1, 1.69)
Gray has lost his first three starts but turned in a strong outing against San Francisco on Thursday, allowing one run and five hits over 6 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old native of Oklahoma tied a National League record by allowing a home run in his 15th consecutive start but otherwise pitched well, registering six strikeouts while throwing 102 pitches. Myers is 9-for-26 with a home run against Gray, who is 8-3 with a 2.69 ERA in 15 career starts versus San Diego.
Margevicius recorded his first major-league victory on Friday as he held San Francisco to one run while notching six strikeouts over six innings. The 22-year-old rookie made only one start above the Single-A level before earning a spot in the rotation after pitching well in four spring-training games. A seventh-round pick ofthe Padres in the 2017 draft, Margevicius owns a 12-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his first three starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado OF Noel Cuevas exited Monday’s game with a left quadriceps strain and likely will be placed on the 10-day injured list.
2. Tatis is 8-for-18 with two homers and five RBIs during his five-game hitting streak.
3. Colorado placed Chris Iannetta on the 10-day injured list with a right lat strain and purchased the contract of fellow C Drew Butera from Triple-A Albuquerque.