The San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies play the final contest of an abbreviated two-game series at Coors Field Tuesday afternoon
San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies
San Francisco dropped a 7-4 contest to Colorado last night at Coors Field and will look to maintain its one-game lead in the National League West division. Giants hurler Tim Lincecum had one of his worst career outings, giving up seven runs (three earned) on nine hits and six walks in 5 2/3 innings. “I didn’t pick my team up,” said Lincecum. “I didn’t pick myself up.” The team is still one of the hottest clubs in the majors, winning nine of their last 12 games. San Francisco is also a solid 14-8 versus divisional foes this year. In facing today’s opposing starter, the club will look to improve upon its 14-14 mark against right-handed pitchers.
Giants starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez is 3-2 with a 3.68 ERA in eight starts this season and his coming off a 4-3 home victory in his last start versus the Diamondbacks. The left-hander has made four starts away from home this season, posting a 1-2 mark and 3.68 ERA, allowing just a single home run in 22 innings. Sanchez has struggled with this control recently, issuing 14 free passes in his last 16 frames. In 19 career appearances (12 starts) versus the Rockies, he has compiled an even 4-4 record and 5.23 ERA, but captured a 6-3 victory at tonight’s venue on April 19. He allowed three runs (two earned) and two hits over 6 1/3 innings.
Colorado was paced by a three-run homer off the bat of outfielder Carlos Gonzalez in last night’s win over Lincecum and will look to even up its homestand at 4-4 before heading off to Philadelphia. The Rockies won for just the fifth time in 16 games and are now 2-5 versus the Giants in the season series. “Against that team, and trailing them in the division and them beating us up the whole year, it was a big answer for us,” said shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. The club has a 10-10 home record after the win, which is a long ways from its 52-29 mark of just a season ago. After starting the season with a 17-8 mark during April, the squad has fallen on hard time this month, posting a 4-10 record. Colorado is 7-4 versus left-handed starters.
Rockies starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez enters this afternoon’s contest with an 0-3 record and 6.67 ERA. The power right-hander is coming off a dismal home performance last time out against the Mets, surrendering five runs and issuing six walks in just 3 2/3 innings. Jimenez has been terrible at home, posting an 0-3 record and 8.68 ERA, which is nowhere near the 9-2 mark and 3.19 ERA he tallied at Coors Field just a year ago. In 16 career starts versus the Giants, he has a losing 5-6 record and 3.23 ERA, including a 6-3 home loss to Sanchez earlier in the year. Colorado has lost all six of his starts.
Bettors will be interested in backing the Giants due to their 8-1 mark versus NL West opponents with Sanchez on the hill, while the Rockies are 0-5 in Jimenez’s last five outings against divisional foes.
