Phillies at Rockies
Coors Field has been especially unkind to the Philadelphia Phillies over the past few years, but Bryce Harper appears intent on reversing the trend. The Phillies aim for a split of their four-game series against host Colorado on Sunday after snapping a six-game losing streak against the Rockies on Saturday.
Harper had a career-high five hits on Friday and crushed a three-run homer in Saturday’s 8-5 win as the Phillies beat the Rockies for just the third time in their last 13 meetings at Coors Field. Andrew McCutchen returned to the lineup after leaving Friday’s contest with left knee inflammation and belted a solo homer, while reserve infielder Phil Gosselin doubled in three runs. Colorado leadoff hitter Charlie Blackmon followed his walk-off homer in Friday’s 12-inning, 4-3 victory by going 4-for-5 with a solo homer, RBI triple and two runs scored in Saturday’s loss. David Dahl, Trevor Story and Mark Reynolds each added two hits for the Rockies, who saw their five-game winning streak come to an end.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, AT&T SportsNet - Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jerad Eickhoff (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Gray (1-3, 3.42)
Eickhoff is moving into the rotation in place of Nick Pivetta, who was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following four rough outings. The 28-year-old was impressive during four scoreless innings of relief against the New York Mets on Tuesday, allowing three hits with six strikeouts. “There’s no harder worker. Nobody that’s been a better teammate,” general manager Matt Klentak told reporters. “We think Jerad has earned the chance to get back in the rotation.”
Gray earned his first win of the season following three straight losses by holding San Diego to one run and three hits over seven innings Tuesday. The 27-year-old Oklahoman has allowed at least one home run in 16 consecutive starts dating back to last July. McCutchen has eight hits in 14 at-bats against Gray, who owns a 2-2 record and 4.11 ERA in five career starts versus Philadelphia covering 30 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Harper has reached base safely in all 20 games this season.
2. Colorado 1B Daniel Murphy (finger) began a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday.
3. The Phillies placed INF Jean Segura (hamstring), RHP Victor Arano (right elbow inflammation) and INF Scott Kingery (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list and recalled INF Mitchell Walding, RHP Drew Anderson and LHP Austin Davis from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.