Arizona @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2012 ) Arizona 8, Colorado 7
The Arizona Diamondbacks try to remain in the playoff picture as they take on the Colorado Rockies in the third match of their four-game series at Coors Field on Sunday. Arizona remained 4 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild-card spot in the National League with Saturday's 8-7 victory. Aaron Hill collected four RBIs, including three on a sixth-inning triple that erased a deficit and gave the Diamondbacks a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Diamondbacks' chances for the postseason are slim as they have only 11 games remaining and must move past three other teams before overtaking the Cardinals. The Rockies enter Sunday with an eight-game losing streak and only two victories in their last 17 contests. Colorado must win five of its last 11 games to avoid the first 100-loss season in franchise history.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FSN (Arizona), Root Sports (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (14-11, 4.08 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Jeff Francis (5-6, 5.58)
Kennedy is coming off a triumph over San Diego on Tuesday in which he allowed just one run and seven hits over eight innings. It was the third straight win for the 27-year-old, who has yielded a total of one run over 21 2/3 frames during the streak. Kennedy improved to 3-1 lifetime against the Rockies on July 23, when he gave up two runs and five hits in eight innings.
Francis has faced the NL West champion San Francisco Giants in each of his last two starts, losing both as he has surrendered seven runs over eight innings. The 31-year-old Canadian has won only one of his last seven outings and two of his last 11. Francis yielded two runs over six frames in a triumph at Arizona on July 25 as he improved to 8-7 in 21 career starts against the Diamondbacks.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona C Miguel Montero has started 20 consecutive games.
2. The Diamondbacks have scored 23 runs and recorded 32 hits over the first two games of the four-game series.
3. Colorado's Wilin Rosario hit his 26th home run Saturday, tying him with A.J. Pierzynski of the Chicago White Sox for the most blasts by a catcher. Rosario is two homers behind Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels for the lead among major-league rookies.