Mariners at Rockies
The All-Star break can’t come soon enough for the Seattle Mariners, who own the fourth-best record in the major leagues but have dropped seven of their last 10 games. The Mariners opened their three-game interleague series against the host Colorado Rockies with back-to-back losses and look to avoid a sweep on Sunday.
Jon Gray pitched into the eighth inning and Carlos Gonzalez belted a two-run homer in Saturday’s 4-1 victory as the Rockies won for the ninth time in 11 games. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu was scratched from the starting lineup due to lower back tightness and could miss a second contest on Sunday but is expected to avoid the disabled list. Seattle is 1-4 against Colorado this season despite the play of Jean Segura, who has reached base in all 23 career games played at Coors Field and is 35-for-94 over that span. The heart of Seattle's batting order – Mitch Haniger, Kyle Seager and Denard Span – went a combined 0-for-12 with three strikeouts in Saturday’s loss.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Mike Leake (8-6, 4.36 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Tyler Anderson (6-3, 3.76)
Leake lost his second straight start on Tuesday, allowing seven runs - five earned - on 11 hits and two walks while striking out one over four innings against the Los Angeles Angels. “He’s not locating," manager Scott Servais told reporters. “That’s his game. He’s a big part of what we're doing in the first half and we just have to get him back on track.” Gerardo Parra is 8-for-22 with a home run against Leake, who is 2-2 with a 5.60 ERA in five career starts versus Colorado.
Anderson settled for a no-decision on Tuesday after yielding one run on three hits and four walks while striking out eight over six innings against Arizona. The 28-year-old native of Las Vegas has worked 47 1/3 frames over his last seven turns, going 3-2 with a 2.09 ERA. Segura is 5-for-8 lifetime against Anderson, who will be making his second career start versus Seattle after giving up six runs and 11 hits over five frames in a 10-4 loss at Coors Field on May 30, 2017.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rockies have recorded five consecutive series wins over teams with .500 records or better for the first time in franchise history.
2. The Mariners recalled Matt Festa from Double-A Arkansas and optioned fellow RHP Christian Bergman to Triple-A Tacoma.
3. Colorado CF Charlie Blackmon is 18-for-47 with five home runs and 10 RBIs over his last 11 games.