Rockies at Reds
The Colorado Rockies are in position to win a road series for the first time since May 1 when they meet the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki made it possible by delivering a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning Tuesday to give the Rockies a 5-4 victory after the Reds went ahead 4-3 in the seventh on a balk. Tulowitzki has 13 home runs, and his 45 RBIs are tied for second in the National League with Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips.
Phillips took fielding and batting practice Tuesday, but missed his third straight game after getting hit by a pitch in the left forearm Saturday in Pittsburgh. He is expected to miss the series finale. Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto is 2-0 in three starts since returning from the disabled list and is coming off his strongest outing of the season. He will oppose Jon Garland, who is 0-4 in his last five starts and hasn't won since May 4.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Colorado), Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Garland (3-6, 5.81 ERA) vs. Reds RH Johnny Cueto (3-0, 2.17)
Garland did not receive a decision in Colorado's 7-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday when he allowed five runs for the third consecutive outing. The Rockies signed the 33-year-old late in spring training and he went 2-0 in his first three starts, but has since averaged less than six innings per outing in eight turns. With Roy Oswalt on the brink of joining the Rockies and Drew Pomeranz excelling at Triple-A Colorado Springs, Garland could be running out of time.
Cueto was phenomenal in Cincinnati's 6-0 victory at Pittsburgh on Friday, allowing one hit, a walk and hitting a batter in eight innings to lower his WHIP to 0.88. The 27-year-old missed seven turns after suffering a strained back muscle and yielded four runs, eight hits and struck out 16 in 20 innings since his return. Cueto, who is 2-2 with a 4.05 ERA in five starts against Colorado, has won five consecutive decisions dating to last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado is 0-3-1 in its last four road series since taking two out of three at Dodger Stadium.
2. Cincinnati 3B Todd Frazier, who finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2012, has recorded two hits in each of his last four games. He is 19-for-54 in his last 16 contests to raise his average from .214 to .253.
3. Colorado 3B Nolan Arenado did not start Tuesday before entering the game in the eighth inning as a defensive replacement. After starting his major-league career 10-for-31, the rookie is 19 for his last 100.