Washington @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 26, 2012 ) Washington 12, Colorado 5
The National League East-leading Washington Nationals hope they saved some offense for the remainder of their road trip as they continue their 10-game trek Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies. Washington improved to 2-3 on its trip Tuesday with a 12-5 triumph in the second game of its four-game series at Coors Field. The Nationals had not scored that many runs since registering 17 on May 20, 2011, against Baltimore.
Washington collected 21 hits, tying the record for the club since it moved from Montreal. Eleven of those hits were for extra bases, which is a Nationals record. Starter Gio Gonzalez notched his 10th victory, becoming just the second left-hander in Nationals history (John Lannan in 2011) to reach double digits in wins. Colorado has lost seven of eight at home and 15 of 19 overall.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Washington), Root Sports (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (3-6, 2.89 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Edwar Cabrera (NR)
Zimmermann is seeking his first win since May 22 as he is 0-2 over his last five starts. The 26-year-old has allowed three runs or less in each of his last four outings, including a loss at Baltimore on Friday in which he yielded just two runs over seven innings. Zimmermann is 3-3 in seven road starts this season, despite posting a 2.54 ERA, and 2-0 in three career meetings with the Rockies.
Cabrera will be making his major league debut. The 24-year-old Dominican has been a strikeout machine as he led the minor leagues last season with 174 with Single-A Asheville and Modesto. Cabrera has fanned 82 batters in 98 innings while going 8-4 with a 2.94 ERA in 15 starts for Double-A Tulsa this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington 3B Ryan Zimmerman collected three hits Tuesday, including the 1,000th of his career.
2. Colorado optioned RHP Zach Putnam to Triple-A Colorado Springs to make room on the roster for Cabrera, whose recall pushed LHP Josh Outman's next start to Thursday.
3. Rockies 2B Marco Scutaro participated in pregame activities Tuesday but did not play. Scutaro was hit in the head by a fastball from Washington's Stephen Strasburg in Monday's victory.