Cincinnati @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2011 ) Cincinnati 7, Colorado 12

THE STORY: The Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds put on a power display at Coors Field on Saturday reminiscent of the pre-humidor days. With both teams having nothing much left to play for, perhaps another power display will at least keeps fans coming. The teams combined for nine home runs and 22 hits in Colorado’s win. The Rockies will put a piece of their future on display Sunday when Drew Pomeranz makes his first major league start. Cincinnati will hand the ball to its former ace when Edinson Volquez returns from the minors for the series finale.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FSOH (Cincinnati), ROOT (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Drew Pomeranz (4-3, 1.78 ERA in minors) vs. Reds RH Edinson Volquez (5-4, 5.93 ERA).

One of the key pieces to the Ubaldo Jimenez trade in July, Pomeranz was the Cleveland Indians’ top prospect and has had little trouble in the minors this season. The former first-round pick posted a combined 119 strikeouts in 101 innings while holding opponents to a .189 batting average between stops in the Carolina, Eastern and Texas leagues. Pomeranz was thought to be done for the season after having his appendix removed on Aug. 20 but has made a swift recovery.

Volquez was Cincinnati’s Opening Day starter but struggled so much with his fastball command that he was demoted to Triple-A Louisville in early July. The former All-Star made 13 starts for the Bats, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.37 ERA. Volquez is expected to spend the last few weeks in Mike Leake’s spot in the rotation after the second-year righthander is shut down this week. Volquez has made one career start at Coors Field, allowing three runs over six innings in a no-decision.

ABOUT THE ROCKIES (68-77): Rookie Alex White, another part of the Jimenez trade, became the first Colorado pitcher since the installation of the humidor in 2002 to allow five home runs in one game on Saturday. White surrendered three straight at one point in the fifth but still managed to make it through the inning and take the win. That was thanks to rookie Jordan Pacheco, who hit his first major league homer in the bottom of the fifth and capped a four-run rally in the eighth with a two-run single. The win kept Colorado from dropping more than 10 games below .500 for the first time this season. Troy Tulowitzki, who sat out Friday with a sore hip, returned to the lineup and drove in a pair of runs.

ABOUT THE REDS (71-74): It’s not often that Cincinnati hits five home runs in a game and loses, but home runs and losses have become common place with Bronson Arroyo on the mound. The former ace is struggling through his worst full season in the majors and did not record an out in the second inning Saturday. The righthander yielded three of the Rockies’ four home runs, giving him a major league-leading 40 home runs surrendered this season. Chris Heisey had his third multi-homer game and sparked the back-to-back-to-back blasts in the fifth followed by Joey Votto and Jay Bruce. Cincinnati is just 4-8 over its last 12 games and has traded off wins and losses in nine games this month.

FINAL PITCH: Reds closer Francisco Cordero passed Jose Mesa as the all-time saves leader among Dominican-born pitchers on Friday night with his 322nd. The veteran righthander was also nominated by his teammates for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, which honors on-field performance and service to the community. Fans have until noon ET Monday to vote on the award.