Rockies at Reds
The Colorado Rockies own their first winning streak in nearly a month and will try to stretch it to three in a row for the first time since mid-June when they continue a three-game series at the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. The Rockies snapped a three-game slide with an 8-7 win at Washington on Thursday before opening the set against the Reds with a 12-2 triumph.
Daniel Murphy homered and drove in a career-high six runs and Colorado went 6-for-11 with runners in scoring position to roll in the opener. Charlie Blackmon added three hits and two RBIs and is 13-for-30 with seven runs scored during a seven-game hitting streak for the Rockies. He is 3-for-7 with a triple against Anthony DeSclafani, who starts Saturday for the Reds. Colorado is expected to turn to Chi Chi Gonzalez as he seeks his first victory since 2015.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Chi Chi Gonzalez (0-2, 5.14 ERA) vs. Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (5-5, 4.12)
Gonzalez last started for the Rockies on July 15, allowing two runs in five innings of a loss to San Francisco. He has 10 strikeouts against nine walks with 16 hits allowed in 14 innings on the year. The 27-year-old will be facing the Reds for the first time.
DeSclafani has a 2.28 ERA over his last four starts and struck out a season-high 11 against St. Louis his last time out. He has allowed two runs or fewer in four straight home starts. The University of Florida product is 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA in two career starts versus Colorado.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Reds activated C Tucker Barnhart from the 10-day injured list. They also placed both C Juan Graterol and 2B Kyle Farmer on the injured list due to concussions.
2. Murphy is batting .352 since the All-Star break.
3. Cincinnati LF Josh VanMeter has recorded back-to-back 3-for-4 efforts.