Colorado @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Oct 2, 2012 ) Colorado 3, Arizona 5
The Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks each hope to conclude the season on a winning note as the National League West rivals meet in the rubber game of their season-ending three-game series Wednesday. Colorado posted a 7-5 victory in 13 innings in Monday's series opener after squandering a ninth-inning lead. The Rockies were ahead in the ninth again on Tuesday before Aaron Hill belted a walk-off three-run homer to even the series.
Colorado failed to record consecutive road victories for the first time since late August as it lost for the 10th time in 11 games away from home. The Diamondbacks had lost four of six before the heroics by Hill, who has hit safely in 14 of his last 17 contests and registered three hits four times in his last nine games. Arizona reliever David Hernandez hopes to redeem himself before the season ends, as his first five pitches on Tuesday resulted in two runs and three hits.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Root Sports (Colorado), FSN (Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Jeff Francis (5-7, 5.75 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (15-11, 4.16)
Francis has gone 0-3 over his last six starts, pitching more than five innings only once in that span. The 31-year-old Canadian is coming off a loss at Los Angeles in which he surrendered five runs and six hits in four frames. Francis, who hasn't worked more than six innings in any of his 23 outings this year, is 8-7 in 22 career meetings with Arizona.
Kennedy is hoping to finish the season with a five-game winning streak. The 27-year-old defeated Chicago at home on Friday, allowing just three runs in 5 2/3 innings despite issuing a season-high six walks. Kennedy, who is 8-3 at Chase Field this year, has won three of his four career decisions against the Rockies.
WALK-OFFS
1. Kennedy is one of four pitchers in Diamondbacks history to post back-to-back 15-win seasons. He joined Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling and Brandon Webb in the exclusive club.
2. Colorado RHP Rafael Betancourt has blown two save opportunities in as many nights after converting 11 consecutive chances.
3. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt is two stolen bases away from becoming the sixth player in franchise history to record a 20-20 season.