Athletics at Rockies
The Oakland Athletics are riding a six-game winning streak and hope to continue pouring on the offense when they begin a three-game series against the host Colorado Rockies on Friday. Oakland, which completed a four-game sweep in Texas with a 7-6 triumph on Thursday, has scored 51 runs during its string of victories - including 41 in the set against the Rangers.
Matt Chapman went 3-for-3 with a homer and three runs scored in Thursday's win for the Athletics, who lead the major leagues with 96 blasts on the road and figure to add to that total when they visit hitter-friendly Coors Field. Colorado avoided a third consecutive loss on Wednesday as it edged Houston 3-2 on a walk-off solo homer by Charlie Blackmon for its sixth win in seven home games and eighth in 10 overall contests. Blackmon, who has reached 20 blasts for the third straight season, brings an eight-game hitting streak during which he has gone 12-for-32 into the series opener. Carlos Gonzalez also went deep in Wednesday's win for the Rockies, who are two games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and one back in the wild-card race.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Sean Manaea (9-6, 3.38 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (8-6, 3.28)
Manaea is in the midst of a nine-start unbeaten streak during which he is 4-0 with a 3.09 ERA after settling for a no-decision against San Francisco on Sunday. The 26-year-old native of Indiana allowed just two runs - marking the seventh time during the stretch he has given up fewer than three - and four hits while registering five strikeouts without issuing a walk in 6 2/3 innings. Manaea, who never has faced Colorado, is 1-2 with a 4.45 ERA in five interleague starts this year.
Freeland also is enjoying an unbeaten streak that reached seven starts on Saturday, when he escaped with a no-decision at Arizona after yielding four runs on five hits and three walks over five innings. The 25-year-old native of Denver has recorded only two victories during his run but allowed fewer than three runs six times while posting a 2.55 ERA. Freeland, who will be facing Oakland for the first time in his career, has given up three runs and 13 hits over 12 innings in two interleague no-decisions this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rockies bolstered their bullpen on Thursday, acquiring 36-year-old South Korean RHP Seunghwan Oh from Toronto for 1B Chad Spanberger, 2B Forrest Wall and a player to be named.
2. Athletics DH Khris Davis, who belted six homers during a four-game streak before being kept in the park on Thursday, will be in left field for the series in Colorado.
3. Colorado agreed to terms with RHP Santiago Casilla, who was released by Oakland on July 19 after recording one save and a 3.16 ERA in 26 relief appearances, on a minor-league contract.