Reds at Rockies
This weekend’s visit to Coors Field has been the perfect elixir for the Cincinnati Reds, who entered the All-Star break ranked near the bottom of the National League in several offensive categories. Less than 12 hours after setting season highs in hits and runs scored, the Reds face the Colorado Rockies on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game series.
Rookie Philip Ervin went 6-for-6 with three RBIs while Yasiel Puig was 4-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs in Saturday’s 17-9 victory as the Reds snapped a three-game losing streak by collecting 24 hits – including four doubles, five triples and three homers. Nick Senzel and Jose Peraza were a combined 8-for-11 with three RBIs in a contest that was delayed at the start by 3 hours, 38 minutes due to rain. Colorado lost for the seventh time in eight games despite the play of Nolan Arenado, who blasted his 21st homer and drove in three runs. Daniel Murphy added four hits and went deep for the second straight game, but five relievers combined to allow 12 runs and 15 hits over five innings.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Tyler Mahle (2-9, 4.47 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Antonio Senzatela (7-6, 5.32)
Mahle lost his fourth straight decision last Sunday, allowing three runs and six hits over four-plus innings against Cleveland. The 24-year-old Californian is 2-2 with a 3.62 ERA in seven home starts but has gone 0-7 with a 5.04 mark in 10 outings away from Great American Ball Park. A seventh-round pick of Cincinnati in the 2013 draft, Mahle made two starts against Colorado last season and posted a 5.40 ERA with 10 strikeouts over 10 innings.
Senzatela stumbled in his final start before the All-Star break and took the loss after giving up seven runs over 4 1/3 innings versus Arizona on July 5. The outing marked a step back for the 24-year-old, who was 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA over his previous seven turns. Senzatela is facing the Reds for the first time since May 20, 2017, when he walked four batters and allowed four runs over five innings in a no-decision at Cincinnati.
WALK-OFFS
1. Puig is batting .307 with nine homers and 24 RBIs in 38 career games at Coors Field.
2. The Rockies optioned INF Pat Valaika to Triple-A Albuquerque.
3. Cincinnati 2B Scooter Gennett has missed the last two games due to illness and is listed as day-to-day.