Colorado @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2012 ) Colorado 6, Philadelphia 7
The Philadelphia Phillies seem to have the Colorado Rockies under their thumb. After rallying for a pair of runs in the ninth inning on Wednesday, the Phillies will vie for the series sweep when the teams reconvene at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday. Philadelphia posted a 7-6 triumph on Wednesday to defeat Colorado for the 22nd time in 26 meetings - although the victory was just the Phillies' fifth in 17 contests overall.
The reeling Rockies suffered their 12th loss in 13 games in heartbreaking fashion. After scratching for a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth, Colorado allowed Hunter Pence to tie the game with a two-out RBI double off the wall before Todd Helton missed tagging first base. The three-time Gold Glove Award winner's miscue allowed both Placido Polanco to reach and Pence to score to end the game.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), CSN (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Jeff Francis (0-1, 12.46 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Vance Worley (3-3, 2.80)
Francis will try to get the kinks out as he prepares for his third start of the season. The 31-year-old British Columbia native answered his eight-run, 10-hit debut by yielding four runs in 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision versus Detroit on Friday. Francis has split a pair of career decisions against Philadelphia, but posted a 6.84 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP in the process.
Worley will be vying for his first win since May 11 when he takes the mound. The 24-year-old yielded three runs for the fourth straight outing, but took the loss in a 3-0 setback to Toronto on Friday. Worley made just one appearance versus Colorado last season, striking out two in a scoreless inning of relief.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez returned after a two-game absence with a strained left knee and went 2-for-4.
2. Philadelphia's Juan Pierre has fared well versus Francis, going 17-for-39 in his career. He has also enjoyed success on the bases, successfully stealing seven times.
3. Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki will have surgery on his left groin on Thursday. It is not immediately known how long the two-time All-Star will be sidelined.