Colorado @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( May 22, 2013 ) Arizona 1, Colorado 4
The Arizona Diamondbacks return to the comfort of home after a disappointing road trip to take on the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a three-game series Friday. Arizona went 3-7 on its 10-game trek, winning its final two contests to earn a split of a four-game set against the New York Mets. After posting a 5-3 triumph on Wednesday in a game that began nearly two hours late due to rain, the Diamondbacks outlasted the Mets 5-4 in 15 innings Thursday afternoon.
Arizona scored in the 13th and 14th frames, only to allow tying solo homers by Anthony Recker and Kirk Nieuwenhuis, respectively. Cliff Pennington's RBI single in the 15th put the Diamondbacks ahead for good as the National League West leaders improved to 10-3 in extra-inning games. Michael Cuddyer homered, drove in three runs and scored three more Thursday as Colorado halted a three-game skid but lost star left fielder Carlos Gonzalez, who suffered a strained upper back but expects to be in the lineup Friday.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Colorado), FSN (Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Jorge De La Rosa (8-4, 3.09 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Tyler Skaggs (1-1, 5.40)
De La Rosa allowed one run over six innings against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday before exiting with a bruised left thumb. The 32-year-old Mexican has won six of his last seven decisions and has yielded fewer than three runs eight times in his last 11 starts. De La Rosa improved to 8-4 lifetime against Arizona after giving up one run over 5 1/3 frames on May 22.
Skaggs is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Reno to make his fourth start of the season. The 21-year-old lost his most recent outing June 9, surrendering five runs in five innings against San Francisco. Skaggs also yielded five runs at St. Louis five days earlier after scattering three hits over six scoreless innings in a victory over Texas in his season debut May 27.
WALK-OFFS
1. Gonzalez injured his back on a swing during his fifth-inning at-bat Thursday and left for a pinch-hitter in the sixth.
2. Pennington has been clutch in extra innings this season, going 8-for-11 with three RBIs.
3. Cuddyer has hit safely in 29 of his last 30 games.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 4