Diamondbacks at Rockies
The Arizona Diamondbacks exploded for 34 runs during a weekend sweep of San Francisco and look to carry that momentum into Coors Field on Monday afternoon, when they begin a four-game series against the Colorado Rockies. Arizona had lost five in a row before visiting the lowly Giants, who were outscored 34-8 in the series.
Ketel Marte homered for the third straight game and Eduardo Escobar went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Sunday’s 6-2 win as Arizona improved to 13-7 in its last 20 road contests. The series in Colorado features two of the hottest hitters in the majors in Marte and the Rockies' Nolan Arenado, who has gone 14-for-26 with four homers and nine RBIs during his six-game hitting streak. Arenado belted a two-run shot in Sunday’s 9-7 victory over Baltimore, while Marte is 7-for-15 with three blasts and five RBIs over his last four contests. The Rockies took two of three from the Orioles without leadoff hitter Charlie Blackmon, who missed the series due to a right calf injury and is listed as day-to-day.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (6-2, 2.89 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Gray (4-4, 4.62)
Greinke produced another solid outing Tuesday against San Diego, allowing three runs and four hits in seven innings. The five-time All-Star has gone 4-1 with a 1.49 ERA over his last seven starts while holding opponents to a .175 batting average. Trevor Story is 11-for-38 with five home runs against Greinke, who allowed three runs in six frames versus Colorado on May 5 and is 12-6 with a 3.78 ERA in 31 career games (30 starts) against the club.
Gray bounced back from a rough outing against Philadelphia by holding Pittsburgh to three runs over seven innings in Wednesday’s 9-3 victory. “Jon did a real good job of repeating his delivery all night long, held his fastball,” Rockies manager Bud Black told reporters. “You saw some 97s in the seventh. He stayed within himself.” The 27-year-old Oklahoman owns a 2-3 record and 5.40 ERA in seven career starts versus Arizona – including an 0-2 mark and 6.75 ERA in four outings at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona SS Nick Ahmed has gone 11-for-25 over his last seven games.
2. Story went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts on Sunday, ending his seven-game hitting streak.
3. Arizona RHP Luke Weaver left Sunday's contest against the Giants due to right forearm tightness and is listed as day-to-day.