Phillies at Rockies
The Colorado Rockies have been excelling at home of late and hope to continue doing so when they host the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Colorado posted its ninth win in 11 contests at Coors Field on Friday, rallying for a 4-3 triumph in the opener after squandering a two-run lead after one inning.
DJ LeMahieu delivered an RBI single in the eighth to snap a tie that was created a frame earlier by Nolan Arenado's solo homer as the Rockies maintained their 5 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee for the second wild card in the National League. LeMahieu has gone 13-for-28 during his seven-game hitting streak while Arenado is 10-for-25 during his six-game run - a stretch in which he has collected eight RBIs to raise his major league-leading total to 97. After ending July with a five-game winning streak, Philadelphia has yet to record a victory in August, opening the month - and its eight-game road trip - with four straight losses. Nick Williams is swinging a hot bat for the Phillies as he is 6-for-8 with a homer and three RBIs in his last two contests.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (4-6, 5.42 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Gray (3-2, 5.52)
Pivetta is coming off a triumph over Atlanta on Monday in which he gave up one run and three hits over six innings. The 24-year-old Canadian rookie has alternated wins and losses over his last six decisions and has yet to post back-to-back victories. Pivetta, who has yet to face Colorado, has gone two straight starts without allowing a home run after serving up a total of seven over his previous three turns.
Gray was saddled with the loss at Washington on Sunday after yielding three runs and four hits - two homers - in seven innings. The 25-year-old Oklahoman has yet to lose at home this season, going 2-0 with a 3.71 ERA in three outings. Gray made his only two career starts against Philadelphia last year and went 0-1 while surrendering nine runs - eight earned - over 10 2/3 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Phillies optioned INF Ty Kelly to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and recalled Jorge Alfaro from the IronPigs as fellow C Andrew Knapp is day-to-day with a bruised right hand.
2. Colorado LHP Kyle Freeland, who leads all major-league rookies in wins (11), exited Friday's game after throwing only 11 pitches due to an apparent groin injury.
3. Philadelphia recalled Ricardo Pinto from Lehigh Valley after optioning fellow RHP Jake Thompson after Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Angels.