Florida @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 24, 2010 ) Florida 1, Colorado 8
The Colorado Rockies will be playing with heavy hearts when they wrap up their series with the Florida Marlins today.
The Rockies will hold a memorial service for team president Keli McGregor at Coors Field prior to the game.
McGregor, 48, passed away on Tuesday in his hotel room in Salt Lake City. The Colorado native had been with the club since 1993 and had served as president since 2001. He played tight end at Colorado State and was drafted by the Denver Broncos.
Close to many of the players and coaching staff, McGregor's football No. 88 was hanging in the dugout Friday when the team returned from its seven-game road trip.
The teams split a doubleheader Saturday, with the Marlins taking the opener and the Rockies dominating the nightcap.
In the first game, Florida used eight strong innings from Ricky Nolasco and home runs from Dan Uggla and Brett Carroll to cruise to a 4-1 victory.
Colorado employed a similar formula in the second game, as Aaron Cook tossed a complete game and Miguel Olivo jacked a three-run homer in the 8-1 victory.
Colorado will send Jorge De La Rosa to the hill in the finale. The right-hander was credited with a win Tuesday at Washington, but has struggled in his last two outings, allowing a combined nine runs - eight earned - in 11 innings while issuing 11 walks.
De La Rosa was stellar in his first start, however, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out nine in seven scoreless innings against San Diego. He has struggled against Florida in the past, going 2-4 with a 7.03 ERA in seven games - six starts.
The Marlins will counter with right-hander Chris Volstad. The 23-year-old has also had some problems with his control this season, surrendering seven walks against eight strikeouts in 19 total innings over three starts.
Volstad did not factor in the decision at Houston on Tuesday, allowing three runs and five hits in six innings.
Marlins third baseman Jorge Cantu went 0-for-4 in Saturday’s game - the first time he failed to get a hit this season – and had 21-game hitting streak dating to last season snapped.
Colorado could be without slugger Brad Hawpe in the series finale. The outfielder left the opener of Saturday's doubleheader in the fifth inning due to tightness in his left quad.