The Diamondbacks’ push to go back to the postseason has hit a bump in Denver this week. Arizona has dropped the primary two video games of a three-game sequence in opposition to the Colorado Rockies, tightening the Nationwide League wild-card race.
The Diamondbacks will attempt to salvage the sequence finale when Eduardo Rodriguez (2-3, 5.50 ERA) takes the mound in opposition to Colorado’s Austin Gomber (5-10, 4.44) on Wednesday afternoon.
The Rockies’ 8-2 win on Tuesday night time dropped Arizona (83-68) right into a tie with the New York Mets (83-68) for the second one NL wild card. Each are two video games forward of the Atlanta Braves (81-70).
The Tuesday end result was once the 535th win as Rockies supervisor for Bud Black, transferring him previous Clint Hurdle for the franchise report.
Rodriguez, who started the 12 months at the injured checklist with a left shoulder pressure, is slated to make his 8th get started of the season. The Diamondbacks signed him ultimate iciness, and he did not make his season debut till Aug. 7 at Cleveland.
He received two of his first 4 begins however has misplaced his previous 3, maximum lately in opposition to Milwaukee on Friday. Rodriguez yielded two runs on 5 hits in 5 innings in opposition to the Brewers, putting out 3 and strolling seven.
In 3 occupation begins in opposition to the Rockies, Rodriguez is 1-0 with a 6.19 ERA. He were given a no-decision vs. Colorado on Aug. 13 after allowing 3 runs in 5 innings.
Rodriguez earned the win in his lone get started at Colorado, when he gave up 3 runs in 5 innings for the Boston Pink Sox on Aug. 28, 2019.
Arizona had scored 52 runs within the six video games previous to coming to Denver, the place batters typically have a bonus within the skinny air. On the other hand, the Diamondbacks have scored simply two runs in each and every of the primary two video games of the sequence.
“Offensively, those guys are all the time locked in,” supervisor Torey Lovullo mentioned. “I would like extra affected person approaches. I believe that is what we are so just right at.”
Runs may well be difficult to return via in opposition to Gomber, who has posted a 1.93 ERA in two September begins. He has tossed no less than six innings in each and every of his previous six outings, together with a win at Atlanta on Sept. 5 when he tied his occupation excessive via going 8 innings.
Gomber is not a high-strikeout pitcher — he averages 4 punchouts a get started — and is dependent upon his protection to get him deep into video games.
“Gomber’s taste isn’t like maximum,” supervisor Bud Black mentioned lately. “There (are) clearly 150 beginning pitchers available in the market within the giant leagues, and there are some guys like Gomby, however there may be extra guys with low to mid 90s speed with tougher secondary pitches and what other folks may seek advice from as higher stuff. However Gomber’s stuff performs. It is a just right hook. It is a tight slider. It is a just right changeup. So, his taste is his taste.”
The 30-year-old Florida local is 3-0 with a 5.04 ERA in 13 occupation appearances (9 begins) in opposition to the Diamondbacks, together with an 0-0 mark with a 4.32 ERA in 3 begins this 12 months. He ultimate confronted Arizona on Aug. 13 and had a no-decision in a 4-3 loss at Phoenix, permitting two runs on six hits over six innings.
–Box Degree Media
