Chicago @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 8, 2014 ) Chi. White Sox 15, Colorado 3

The Chicago White Sox will try to maintain their offensive hot streak when they visit the Colorado Rockies in the rubber game of their three-game series Wednesday afternoon. The White Sox belted six home runs in a 15-3 victory Tuesday, the most they hit in nearly five years. Rookie first baseman Jose Abreu had a breakout game, clubbing his first two major-league home runs and driving in five runs.

The Rockies will try to flush Tuesday's game and think back to Monday, when they pounded out 13 hits and went long twice in the 8-1 victory. The top three hitters in the Colorado order - Charlie Blackmon, Michael Cuddyer and Troy Tulowitzki - are each hitting better than .400, and Justin Morneau has hit safely in his first seven games with the Rockies. The biggest area of concern would be the bullpen, which gave up another seven runs Tuesday.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, Root Sports (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUPS: White Sox RHP Erik Johnson (0-1, 13.50) vs. Rockies RHP Juan Nicasio (1-0, 1.29)

Johnson will look to bounce back after getting knocked around in his season debut Friday against the Kansas City Royals. Johnson, making his sixth major-league start, allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings of the 7-5 loss. Johnson has shown he can shut down good lineups, however, beating the playoff-bound Detroit Tigers last September, allowing two runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Nicasio threw a gem his first time out this season, allowing one run and four hits in seven innings of a 12-2 victory Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He has never faced the White Sox in his previous four seasons in Colorado, but owns a 6-0 career mark in April. The Rockies also know they have a pitcher that can save their bullpen after a taxing night as Nicasio has worked at least seven innings 24 times in his career.

WALK-OFFS

1. White Sox SS Marcus Semien had four hits Tuesday to become Chicago’s first rookie with four or more hits in a game since Jerry Owens on September 9, 2007.

2. The two home runs by Abreu and Avisail Garcia on Tuesday marked the first time two White Sox players accomplished that feat in the same game since Juan Uribe and Frank Thomas on June 8, 2004.

3. Morneau has two errors at first base this season after now-retired Todd Helton committed two all of last season.

PREDICTION: White Sox 8, Rockies 6