Colorado @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 21, 2013 ) Colorado 3, Philadelphia 4
For a team 14 games below .500, the Philadelphia Phillies are suddenly showing some fight. The Phillies have won three of four - all by one run - heading into the finale of a four-game set with the visiting Colorado Rockies on Thursday. Michael Young's game-ending single gave Philadelphia a 4-3 walkoff win Wednesday and evened the Phillies' record at 3-3 under interim manager Ryne Sandberg.
The Rockies' road woes continue as they've failed to win consecutive games away from home since June 22-23 in Washington. Colorado has dropped four of five to fall 10 games below .500 and is 9-26 in its last 35 road games. The season series is tied at 3-3 and wraps up Thursday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), PHL 17 (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Chad Bettis (0-2, 5.30 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (10-10, 4.36)
Bettis makes his fifth big-league start and is coming off the worst outing of his brief career. He was dinged for eight runs - two earned - on seven hits and walked four while lasting only 2 2/3 innings at Baltimore. The 24-year-old needs to cut down on the walks as he has issued 12 in 18 2/3 innings.
Kendrick has lost two straight starts and four of his last five, and the Phillies have had a tough time scoring for him, managing a total of three runs in his last four defeats. The 28-year-old pitched well last time out, limiting the Dodgers to two runs - one earned - over six innings in a 5-0 loss. Kendrick is 3-2 with a 5.47 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) against Colorado and was shelled for seven runs in 4 1/3 innings in a meeting earlier this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rockies C Wilin Rosario is hitting .353 with four home runs during a 12-game hitting streak and SS Troy Tulowitzki is hitting .387 during an eight-game streak.
2. The Phillies have won 17 of 21 meetings at home since 2008.
3. The Rockies are 1-31 on the road when their opponent scores first.
PREDICTION: Phillies 6, Rockies 4