Athletics at Rockies
Scoring runs was not a problem for the Oakland Athletics during their four-game series at Texas, but they had plenty of difficulty in the opener of their three-game set at Coors Field. The Athletics attempt to cross the plate more often on Saturday, when they visit the Colorado Rockies for the middle contest of the interleague series.
Oakland recorded a total of 41 runs while sweeping the four-game set against the Rangers but saw its offensive surge - as well as its six-game winning streak - come to an end with Friday's 3-1 setback in Colorado. Jed Lowrie drove in the lone run with a double, leaving him nine RBIs shy of matching the career high of 75 he registered in 2013 - the first season of his initial stint with the Athletics. Charlie Blackmon notched a pair of doubles to extend his hitting streak to nine games while Nolan Arenado went 2-for-4 with a solo homer for the Rockies, who are 2-1 on their five-game homestand despite scoring a total of eight runs. The blast was the National League-leading 26th of the year for Arenado, who became the seventh player on franchise history to hit 100 blasts at Coors Field.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Brett Anderson (2-2, 5.46 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Antonio Senzatela (3-3, 5.55)
Anderson has been a road warrior in his limited time with Oakland this season, as six of his seven starts have come away from home. Each of the 30-year-old Texan's last five turns have been on the road, including a victory in his home state on Monday in which he allowed two runs and six hits over six innings against the Rangers. Anderson is 1-0 with one complete game and a 4.97 ERA in five career starts versus Colorado.
Senzatela's return from a stint on the disabled list due to a blister was a disappointing one as he yielded four runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings in a loss at Arizona on Sunday. The 23-year-old Venezuelan has made three straight starts after beginning his season with 10 relief appearances, going 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA as he surrendered a total of 10 runs over 11 1/3 frames in the losses while tossing seven scoreless innings in the win. Senzatela will be facing Oakland for the first time in his brief career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics 3B Matt Chapman has recorded six multi-hit performances while going 16-for-36 over his last nine games.
2. Colorado activated RHP German Marquez from the restricted list, optioned OF Raimel Tapia to Triple-A Albuquerque, activated OF David Dahl (foot) from the disabled list and optioned him to the Isotopes and transferred LHP Mike Dunn (shoulder) to the 60-day DL.
3. Oakland OF-DH Khris Davis has been kept in the ballpark in back-to-back contests after belting six homers during a four-game streak.