Pittsburgh @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 13, 2009 ) Pittsburgh 1, Colorado 10
The Colorado Rockies may have found a cure for their recent woes - a home series against the road-challenged Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Rockies look to halt a six-game losing streak on Tuesday when they take on the Pirates at Coors Field in the opener of a three-game series.
Colorado completed its longest road trip of the season on Monday with a 5-4 loss at the Philadelphia Phillies. After scoring twice in the first inning, the Rockies fell behind, 5-2, before staging a comeback attempt in the ninth.
With one on and two outs, Seth Smith belted a two-run homer off Phillies closer Brad Lidge, who loaded the bases before retiring Ryan Spilborghs on a comebacker to clinch the victory and complete a four-game sweep. The Rockies, who went 5-for-33 with runners in scoring position against the Phillies, averaged a mere 3.27 runs during their 2-9 trek.
Colorado was swept of a series for just the second time this season, with the first being a two-game set against the Chicago Cubs in May. The Rockies also went winless in a four-game series for the first time since May 29-June 1, 2008 - also against the Cubs.
Monday's loss also gave the Rockies their longest losing streak since they dropped seven in a row from Sept. 6-13, 2008. They have lost seven of their last eight and 10 of 12 since winning six straight.
Those six consecutive victories all came at home, where Colorado is 15-4 over its last 19 games. Now, with Pittsburgh - which is 11-38 on the road - in town, that record is likely to improve.
The Pirates enter having lost their last four games overall and a six-game road losing streak. Pittsburgh, which is 3-25 over its last 28 road contests, has been swept seven times in its last eight series away from home.
Coming off a 4-6 homestand, Pittsburgh sends Zach Duke to the mound in search of his second straight win. On Wednesday, Duke snapped a personal five-game slide, allowing three runs - two earned - and six hits over six innings of a 15-3 triumph over Milwaukee.
Duke, who is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA in two starts since returning from a strained left elbow, has lost nine of his last 11 decisions. The 27-year old left-hander is 2-4 with a 6.48 ERA in six road outings this year and 3-2 with a 6.90 ERA in five career meetings with the Rockies.
Several Rockies have had success against Duke, including Ian Stewart, who is 4-for-8 with three RBIs, and Chris Iannetta, who is 2-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs. Another Colorado player who is 2-for-6 lifetime vs. Duke is Troy Tulowitzki, who is expected to return to the Rockies' lineup for the first time since suffering a broken left wrist against the Minnesota Twins on June 17.
The Rockies turn to Jorge De La Rosa in hopes of ending their skid. The southpaw will be making his fourth start after missing over two months with a torn tendon in his finger. He is 0-1 with an 8.57 ERA in his last three outings.
De La Rosa did not figure in the decision in Thursday's 3-2 loss at the Florida Marlins but pitched well, yielding just two runs and three hits in six innings. The 29-year old is 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA in four home starts this season.
In eight career games against Pittsburgh, including four relief appearances, De La Rosa owns a 3-1 record and 4.26 ERA.
Spilborghs is one of Colorado's hottest hitters, collecting at least two hits in each of his last four starts. During the Rockies' road trip, Spilborghs batted .400 (10-for-25) with a homer and three RBIs.