Colorado @ Milwaukee preview
Miller Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 2, 2013 ) Colorado 8, Milwaukee 4
Troy Tulowitzki is healthy again and the Colorado Rockies finally reaped the rewards Tuesday. They’ll also attempt to leave Milwaukee with a winning record for the first time in nearly a year Wednesday in the rubber match of a three-game set against the Brewers. With their power-hitting shortstop sidelined for most of last season because of a groin injury, the Rockies limped to a franchise-worst 64-98 record. Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez homered in the same game for the first time since May 27 in Colorado’s season-opening 10-inning loss and repeated the feat in Tuesday’s 8-4 victory.
The Rockies will try to move over .500 for the first time since April 27 against the Brewers, who could not repeat Monday’s late-inning magic. Reliever Mike Gonzalez failed to retire any of the three batters he faced, leading to a three-run seventh that broke the tie game open. On a brighter note, Aramis Ramirez – a career .258 hitter in April – is off to a 3-for-7 start while Jean Segura is 4-for-7 after batting .264 following his trade from the Los Angeles Angels last July.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Root Sports (Colorado), Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Juan Nicasio (2012: 2-3, 5.28 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Wily Peralta (2-1, 2.48)
The oft-injured Nicasio has struggled to stay healthy early in his career, starting 11 games last season before undergoing microfracture knee surgery. He was also limited to 13 games in 2011 because of surgery after a line drive off the bat of the Washington Nationals’ Ian Desmond struck him in the neck, fracturing his vertebrae. Nicasio has faced Milwaukee only once in his career, picking up the win after tossing seven scoreless against the Brewers on July 15, 2011.
Peralta impressed late last season and did not allow a home run in his five September starts. However, the hard-throwing 23-year-old had his share of control issues (11 walks in 29 innings) and will be looking overcome an uneven spring in which he allowed hitters to bat .333 against him. Peralta made his major-league debut on April 22 against the Rockies – the only time he has faced them – and surrendered a run and three hits in an inning of relief.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tulowitzki’s homer Tuesday was his 131st since 2007 – the most among active shortstops.
2. Ryan Braun’s opposite-field home run Tuesday was his 11th such homer since the beginning of 2012, tied with Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen for the most over that span.
3. Colorado is 6-2 against Milwaukee since the start of last season.
PREDICTION: Rockies 6, Brewers 4