Phillies at Rockies
After winning a series versus one struggling team from the National League East, the Colorado Rockies look to do the same against another when they host the major league-worst Philadelphia Phillies on Friday in the opener of their three-game set. Colorado just took two of three from the visiting New York Mets, scoring five runs in each contest while posting a pair of walk-off victories.
The top third of the Rockies' lineup led the way in Thursday's 5-4 triumph, as Charlie Blackmon, DJ LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado went a combined 8-for-11 with a homer and three RBIs. Arenado registered his league-leading 96th RBI by drawing a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning and recorded two hits to improve to 9-for-20 during his five-game hitting streak. Philadelphia remains in search of its first win on its eight-game road trip after being swept in a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. Nick Williams went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in Thursday's 5-4 setback that completed a set during which the Phillies were outscored 19-5.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (2-6, 4.91 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (11-7, 3.71)
Velasquez's winless streak reached eight starts on Sunday, when he settled for a no-decision against Atlanta despite scattering six hits over seven scoreless innings. The 25-year-old Californian, who has allowed fewer than two earned runs in four of his last five outings, has not won since defeating the Cubs in Chicago on May 1 - although he missed the entire month of June and more than half of July with an elbow injury. Velasquez is 1-0 with a 4.60 ERA in three career starts against Colorado, including a no-decision on May 25 in which he gave up one run over five innings.
Freeland has won three straight decisions, including a tough outing at Washington on Sunday in which he allowed four runs - three earned - and nine hits over five innings. The 24-year-old native of Denver has given up two runs over 14 1/3 frames in winning his last two turns at home. Freeland, who will be facing Philadelphia for the first time, leads major-league rookies in victories and innings (121 1/3).
WALK-OFFS
1. Rockies C Jonathan Lucroy threw out a baserunner, went 2-for-3, was hit by a pitch and scored the winning run on Thursday in his debut with the team after being acquired from Texas on Sunday.
2. Philadelphia C Andrew Knapp left Thursday's game in the second inning with a bruised right hand and is day-to-day.
3. Colorado OF Carlos Gonzalez went 0-for-4 on Thursday, ending his hitting streak at 11 games.