Los Angeles @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 20, 2011 ) LA Dodgers 6, Colorado 7
THE STORY: Both clubs will be hoping for a long outing by the starting pitchers when the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies conclude a three-game series on Sunday. Colorado used seven pitchers en route to a 7-6 victory in 13 innings on Saturday. For its part, Los Angeles used eight hurlers. Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley averages slightly more than six innings per start but has been roughed up often by the Rockies in his career. Colorado will be counting on veteran Kevin Millwood to pitch deep into the game. The Rockies regained sole possession of third place in the National League West with Saturday’s victory. Los Angeles won Friday’s series opener.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FSPT (Los Angeles), ROOT (Colorado).
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Chad Billingsley (10-9, 4.04 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Kevin Millwood (0-1, 4.85 ERA)
Billingsley didn’t enjoy his last outing at Coors Field on June 10 when he took the loss while giving up six runs and 13 hits in 4 2/3 innings. He is 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA in three starts against Colorado this season. Billingsley has given up 30 hits in just 14 2/3 innings against the Rockies. Overall, he is 3-6 with a 5.40 ERA in 14 career appearances (12 starts) against Colorado. Billingsley wasn’t involved in the decision in his last outing when he limited the Milwaukee Brewers to one run and four hits in seven innings.
Millwood is making his third start since the Rockies acquired him earlier this month. He lost to the Cincinnati Reds in his Colorado debut on Aug. 10 and had a no-decision five days later against the Florida Marlins when he gave up four runs in six innings. He has allowed five homers in just 13 innings. The 36-year-old Millwood is 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA in nine career starts against Los Angeles. Juan Rivera is batting .346 in 26 career at-bats against Millwood.
ABOUT THE ROCKIES (59-68): Carlos Gonzalez, Todd Helton and Troy Tulowitzki have enjoyed successful results against Billingsley. Gonzalez is batting .500 in 12 career at-bats, Helton is hitting .462 with two homers in 26 trips and Tulowitzki is batting .313 with two homers in 32 at-bats. Helton had three hits and a homer in Saturday’s game and Gonzalez drove in two runs. Gonzalez has 14 RBIs over his last eight games. Tulowitzki is batting .417 during his six-game hitting streak. Eric Young Jr. reached base four times (two hits, two walks), stole three bases and scored twice. Struggling Jason Hammel has been removed from the starting rotation. Alex White, who was acquired from Cleveland in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade, will start Tuesday when Hammel’s turn comes up.
ABOUT THE DODGERS (57-68): Matt Kemp had three hits Saturday and is batting .381 during a 10-game hitting streak. Right fielder Andre Ethier missed his second straight start due to a right big toenail issue. Ethier entered as a pinch hitter and went hitless in three at-bats and is now 3-for-30 over his last nine games. Catcher Rod Barajas (groin) and third baseman Casey Blake (shoulder) missed Saturday’s game. Reliever Hong-Chih Kuo faced three batters Saturday – Gonzalez, Tulowitzki and Helton – and struck them all out. Kuo entered the game with an ERA of 12.00 in 25 innings. He had a 1.20 ERA in 56 appearances in 2010. Javy Guerra blew his first save in 11 opportunities.
FINAL PITCH: Trent Oeltjen hit an inside-the-park homer in the 12th inning of Saturday’s game. It was the first by a Dodgers’ player since Blake DeWitt had one against the New York Mets on May 6, 2008.