Diamondbacks at Rockies
Raimel Tapia is proving to be a rare bright spot for the struggling Colorado Rockies, who have lost 12 of their last 16 games and 21 of their last 28. Tapia is batting .455 during his eight-game hitting streak to lead the Rockies, who look to avoid a sweep in their three-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday afternoon.
Arizona remained 2 1/2 games behind in the race for the second National League wild-card spot as Jarrod Dyson, Christian Walker, Nick Ahmed and David Peralta homered in Tuesday’s 9-3 victory. Ketel Marte had his nine-game hitting streak come to an end, but Ahmed went deep in his third consecutive game and drove in three runs. Arizona has won its last five meetings with Colorado, which fell behind 7-1 after two innings on Tuesday and has lost 13 of its last 18 home games. Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story combined for five hits at the top of the order while Dom Nunez belted a solo homer for his first major-league hit, but the Rockies' bullpen was pressed into early duty after Jeff Hoffman allowed seven runs in two innings.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (10-7, 3.99 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (3-10, 7.06)
Ray settled for a no-decision on Friday after giving up two runs and two hits over six innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 27-year-old Tennessean has recorded a 4.08 ERA and 48-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 35 1/3 frames in six turns since the All-Star break. Blackmon is 20-for-45 with five homers against Ray, who is 5-5 with a 5.21 ERA in 16 career starts versus Colorado – including a 2-2 record and 4.21 mark in seven outings at Coors Field.
Freeland suffered his 10th loss but turned in an encouraging performance on Friday, allowing three runs over six innings against San Diego. “We’re seeing the fastball command a little better, to both sides of the plate,” Colorado manager Bud Black told reporters. “I think we’re all seeing some progress on some of the things all of us had identified, including Kyle.” Ahmed is 6-for-17 with a home run against Freeland, who is 3-3 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 career starts versus Arizona.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Diamondbacks have recorded a three-homer inning in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history.
2. The Rockies optioned RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez to Triple-A Albuquerque and designated C Chris Iannetta for assignment.
3. Arizona RHP Archie Bradley is riding a 14-game scoreless streak covering 17 1/3 innings.