Rockies at Giants
Mired in a season-long slump, Colorado Rockies first baseman Ian Desmond is hoping Friday’s power display is a harbinger of things to come. Colorado continues its four-game series against the host San Francisco Giants on Saturday and could use a repeat performance from Desmond, who entered Friday’s contest in a 3-for-33 drought.
Desmond belted an RBI double and a three-run homer in Friday’s 6-1 victory as the Rockies won for the fourth time in their last six games. Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story added two hits apiece for a Colorado team that entered Friday’s game ranked 12th in the National League averaging four runs per game. “We know our offense is not hitting the way we normally hit,” right fielder Carlos Gonzalez told reporters. “But it’s a long season and there are a lot of games ahead of us. We are going to get hot and we are going to score a lot of runs.” The Giants have scored a total of seven runs during their three-game losing streak but could soon receive a boost from Mac Williamson, who has been sidelined with a concussion but homered Friday in his first minor-league rehab game for Triple-A Sacramento.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Gray (4-5, 4.85 ERA) vs. Giants RH Chris Stratton (4-3, 4.88)
Gray saw his three-game winning streak come to an end despite striking out 10 batters Sunday, as he allowed six runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 7-3 loss to Milwaukee. The 26-year-old owns a 2-2 record and 3.42 ERA with 23 strikeouts against five walks in four road starts this season. Andrew McCutchen has four hits in seven at-bats against Gray, who is 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA in three career starts versus San Francisco, all at AT&T Park.
Stratton went 2-1 with a 2.32 ERA and provided a much-needed spark in his first five outings but has struggled in his last four starts, going 2-2 with a 9.53 ERA across 17 innings. The 27-year-old has given up six homers during that span while striking out 17 against 12 walks. Stratton is making his second career start against Colorado after giving up three runs on eight hits over four innings in a no-decision at Coors Field on Sept. 4, 2017.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado owns an 18-9 record on the road, including 8-1 this month.
2. Giants 1B Brandon Belt was held out of the starting lineup Friday due to a swollen knee but appeared as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning.
3. Colorado CF Charlie Blackmon belted his 12th home run and first since May 4 on Friday - a two-run shot in the ninth inning.