The Rockies are a difficult team to deal with at home especially during the month of July.
San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies
San Francisco earned an 11-8 come-from-behind victory last night over Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez at Coors Field. The club has still lost nine of their last 11 games, but finally broke over the three-run barrier. During the team’s seven-game losing streak, the offense failed to score more than three runs over that span. “After losing so many in a row, we weren’t going to roll over and die,” said outfielder Nate Schierholtz. Closer Brian Wilson continues to shut the door when given the opportunity, picking up his 22nd save of the season last night. The Giants stand at an even 15-15 during the day this season (-260), with the total going 11-16-3 (O/U) in those contests. The offense is batting .251 in the afternoon in 2010, while combining to hit just .225 over the past seven games.
Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain will be making his 17th start of the season, going 6-7 with a 2.93 ERA and the team compiling a 7-9 record (-500). His season ERA has risen 77 points from 2.16 to its current 2.93 mark after giving up 11 earned runs over his last two outings. His earned run average is still 10th-best in the National League, with his opponents average against (.224) ranking 12th-lowest in the Senior Circuit. Cain makes his 21st career start against the Rockies, posting a 10-6 mark with a 2.96 ERA over his 20 outings (+260). He has tossed at least six innings in eight straight starts against Colorado, which has led to a 2-0 record and 0.56 ERA in two starts this season versus the division rivals in 2010.
Colorado rallied from a 7-1 deficit to take an 8-7 lead on Saturday evening, but failed to hold the lead. “We did a tremendous job tonight offensively to get back into the game,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. The club is still 8-3 in its last 11 home games and 18-15 against the NL West this season (+60). Colorado will be playing its 19th game on the Fourth of July this afternoon, producing an 8-11 all-time record. The team is 3-1 in the club’s last four Independence Day contests since 2006. Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has been leading the offense and may have found a home at the No. 3 spot in the batting order. The second-year star has five home runs and 14 RBI in 17 games in that spot compared to the team producing just two home runs and 21 RBI from alternate players in the other 64 games.
Rockies starting pitcher Jason Hammel is 6-3 with a 4.32 ERA in 13 starts this season (+10) and is coming off a splendid June. The right-hander finished the previous month with the second-lowest ERA (1.83) among NL starting pitchers. He is 5-1 with a 2.58 ERA in his eight starts since being reinstated from the disabled list on May 15. Hammel was 0-2 with a 9.16 ERA in his four starts before landing on the DL. He has enjoyed pitching in Coors Field for a second season, posting a 5-1 record and 3.31 ERA in eight home starts this year (+120), allowing just three home runs in 49 innings. In five career starts against the Giants, he sits at 0-2 with a 3.03 ERA. Despite picking up a no decision in his one start against the division rivals on June 1 at AT&T Park, he pitched well in leading the Rockies to a 2-1 victory (6.2IP/1ER).
The betting public must respect the Rockies 7-1 mark at home when the total is 8 to 8.5, while the team is 13-7 overall in this situation (+720). All three of Colorado’s games this month have gone over the total, but the team is 9-18 (O/U) in day games. San Francisco’s 4-10 mark (-680) on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5 seals the deal in playing the home team this afternoon.
