Rockies at Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker was mired in a 2-for-22 slump with nine strikeouts over his previous seven games, and then the Colorado Rockies came to town. Walker erupted for a career-high five RBIs and enjoyed his first multi-homer game in Arizona's series-opening 8-0 victory and hopes to keep slugging when the club hosts Colorado on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series.
The Diamondbacks halted their eight-game losing streak against the Rockies thanks to Walker, who is hitting .357 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in 42 at-bats versus Colorado this season. The Rockies' major league-worst starters' ERA grew to 5.57 after Antonio Senzatela yielded seven runs in 4 1/3 innings on Friday while their overall ERA (5.21) is the worst in the National League. Charlie Blackmon is batting .460 with 16 home runs and 37 RBIs in 139 home at-bats but .232 with four blasts and 20 RBIs in 168 road at-bats after going 0-for-3 on Friday as the Rockies are hitting .314 in Denver compared to .224 away from Coors Field. Colorado's Jon Gray, who is 6-1 with a 2.90 ERA in his last nine starts while winning the last three, takes the mound Saturday opposite Robbie Ray, who has gone 0-3 over his last four outings.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Gray (9-5, 3.84 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (5-6, 4.10)
Gray allowed three runs (two earned), seven hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 29. The 27-year-old Oklahoman hasn't served up a home run in his last four outings and has permitted three over his last nine turns while lowering his ERA by 0.89 during that span. Ketel Marte is 6-for-13 lifetime versus Gray, who is 3-3 with a 4.71 ERA in nine starts against the Diamondbacks - including a 1-0 record and 2.38 ERA in two outings this season after posting a 6-4 road victory on June 19 in which he allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings.
Ray yielded four runs, six hits and three walks while registering five strikeouts in four innings of a 10-4 loss at San Francisco on Sunday. The 27-year-old Tennessean is 0-2 in his last four turns at Arizona despite recording three quality starts and 2-2 with a 3.71 ERA in seven home outings this season. Blackmon is hitting .452 with five home runs and 12 RBIs in 42 at-bats while Nolan Arenado is 14-for-38 with three blasts and 10 strikeouts against Ray, who is 4-5 with a 5.49 ERA in 15 career starts versus the Rockies - with a 1-1 mark and 4.41 ERA in three outings this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona on Friday placed OF David Peralta (.347 average with runners in scoring position) on the 10-day injured list with a shoulder injury and recalled INF Domingo Leyba from Triple-A Reno.
2. Colorado has gone 4-9 since sweeping a three-game series at Chase Field from June 18-20.
3. The Diamondbacks lead baseball with an 18.9 inherited runners scored percentage, which would be the third-lowest number since 1974 behind the 1995 Indians (17.7) and 1988 Mets (18.8).