Sunday, September 1, 2013

Rockies Take on Reds in Rubber Match of Their Series

     The Reds got the best of the Rockies last night as Greg Reynolds led the team to an 8-3 victory. Reynolds held the Rockies to just seven hits and three runs over eight innings and secured his first victory since 2011 when he was a member of the Rockies staff. The Reds were led by a trio of players that each had three hits. Shin-Soo Choo, Brandon Phillips, and Ryan Ludwick each had three hits in the game. Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, and Ryan Ludwick also had two RBI apiece for the Reds in the game. Brandon Phillips came up a single shy of the cycle in the game and led the team to the victory. The Rockies will be looking to get back on track this afternoon as they try for the series win against the Reds.

     Tyler Chatwood will be making his return to the mound for the Rockies in the game today against the Reds. It will be a tough test for him in his return, but he will be trying to keep his good season on track. On the year, Chatwood has a 7-4 record with a very good 3.15 ERA in 15 games started. His last start before suffering the elbow injury was against the Braves on July 31st and he was roughed up in that start as he lasted just 2 1/3rd innings allowing 10 hits, eight runs (seven earned), had one walk and struck out one. This year at home he has a 4-1 record with a 3.47 ERA in eight games pitched at Coors Field. Current Reds players have struggled against Chatwood as they have just three hits in 22 combined at bats. Shin-Soo Choo has the most at bats against Chatwood with eight and has failed to get any hits against Chatwood. It will be interested to see how Chatwood performs coming off of his injury. He will need to be careful when pitching to the Reds hitters especially their 1-5 hitters, as all of them have the potential to leave the yard at any time. Should he be able to get ahead of the hitters, then he has a chance to use his breaking balls to put them away.

     The Rockies will have the task of trying to figure out the Reds starter Mike Leake this afternoon. Leake has quietly put together a very good season for the Reds. On the year he has a 11-5 record with a 3.27 ERA in 26 games started. He has struggled lately and has given up at least four runs in each of his last three starts, but he has managed to go 1-0 during that span thanks to the Reds offensive fire power. At the end of July he had a very good ERA of 2.59 but since then he has struggled to find his rhythm in the five starts since then. He has been very good on the road this year as he has a 7-1 record with a good 2.60 ERA in 14 starts. Current Rockies players have hit Leake very well in their career matchups against each other as they have a .372 average with five home runs and 10 RBI in 43 combined at bats. He is very happy that Tyler Colvin is still in AAA because Colvin has done the most damage against Leake as he has a .353 average with four home runs and eight RBI against him. Nobody is happier that August is over than Mike Leake. In five starts in August, Leake had a 1-1 record with an atrocious 6.44 ERA. He will be trying to get back to his winning ways in September, but the Rockies will be trying to make sure that it does not happen against them.

     The Reds lineup for the game today is as follows:
1. Shin-Soo Choo, CF
2. Brandon Phillips, 2B
3. Joey Votto, 1B
4. Jay Bruce, RF
5. Devin Mesoraco, C
6. Chris Heisey, LF
7. Jack Hannahan, 3B
8. Zack Cozart, SS
9. Mike Leake,P

     The Rockies lineup for the game this afternoon is as follows:
1. Corey Dickerson, LF
2. DJ LeMahieu, 2B
3. Troy Tulowitzki, SS
4. Michael Cuddyer, RF
5. Todd Helton, 1B
6. Nolan Arenado, 3B
7. Yorvit Torrealba, C
8. Charlie Blackmon, CF
9. Tyler Chatwood, P

     First pitch for the game today is scheduled for 2:10 PM Mountain time. The Rockies will be trying to get their third series win in a row and get some momentum before Yasiel Puig and the Dodgers come into towin on Monday.

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