Pirates at Rockies
Nolan Arenado has been one of the few bright spots this month for the Colorado Rockies, who have fallen a season-high 17 games under .500 with nine losses in their last 11 contests. Arenado looks to maintain his focus on Friday, when the Rockies continue their four-game series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
Colorado rookie Sam Hilliard hit his second major-league homer in his second career start in Thursday’s 11-8 loss and shared the spotlight with Arenado, who turned in another defensive gem in the fourth inning and is batting .330 with 12 blasts this month. “When you’re losing like this, without sounding bad, I don’t buy into what’s going on here in a way,” Arenado told reporters. “I just go out there and compete the best I can. I don’t care if we’re losing or winning, I’m here to do a job and do the best I can.” Pittsburgh has won five of its last seven games and received a spark Thursday from leadoff hitter Kevin Newman, who went 4-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs. Adam Frazier added four hits while Starling Marte extended his hitting streak to eight games with a first-inning single.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Dario Agrazal (3-3, 4.41 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Antonio Senzatela (8-8, 6.75)
Agrazal recorded his first victory since July 6 on Sunday against Cincinnati, allowing four runs and seven hits over five innings. The 24-year-old rookie posted 2.70 ERA in his first two starts in June but has registered a 4.85 mark over his last eight games (seven starts). “It all boils down to executing pitches and attacking,” Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage told reporters. “That’s how Agrazal has success, and if he does that, he'll be fine."
Senzatela is looking to bounce back from a dismal outing on Sunday, when he gave up six runs over 1 2/3 innings in a loss to St. Louis. The 24-year-old Venezuelan was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to make his first start since July 20 after both Jon Gray and Kyle Freeland landed on the injured list. Senzatela faced the Pirates in Pittsburgh on May 23 and lost after surrendering eight runs and nine hits over 3 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh has averaged 7.01 runs over its last 16 contests at Coors Field since July 27, 2014.
2. Colorado SS Trevor Story is riding a 14-game home hitting streak.
3. The Pirates recalled RHPs Montana DuRapau and Parker Markel from Triple-A Indianapolis and placed RHPs Yefry Ramirez (calf) and Chris Stratton (side) on the 10-day injured list.