The Colorado Rockies will turn to right-hander Michael Lorenzen in a bid to win the rubber match of their three-game weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon in Denver.
The Rockies pulled even in the series at one win apiece after they scored three runs over the first two innings in a 4-2 victory on Saturday. It was only Colorado’s second win in the last seven games.
Saturday also was only the third game this season at Coors Field in which neither team homered.
The Diamondbacks won 9-1 on Friday.
Lorenzen (2-5, 6.55 ERA) has lost his last three starts, surrendering 13 runs in 15 1/3 innings.
He was better in his last outing, a 3-1 road defeat to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. Lorenzen gave up two runs on five hits in five innings, walking two and striking out five.
“You’ve got to show up and try to get better each and every time. This time around, I felt like I improved,” Lorenzen said.
But his performance was overshadowed by Pirates star Paul Skenes no-hitting the Rockies for 6 1/3 innings.
Lorenzen knows about that kind of bid — he pitched a no-hitter while with the Philadelphia Phillies in a 7-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Aug. 9, 2023.
“You notice it,” Lorenzen said. “You’re sitting here hoping that someone (on your team) is able to break through and get a base hit so you can build some momentum and score some runs.”
Lorenzen has been effective in his career against Arizona, going 3-1 with a 2.39 ERA in 10 appearances. He’s started only twice against Arizona, but the most recent time was dazzling.
Last July 6, while pitching for the Kansas City Royals, Lorenzen picked up the win after allowing two hits over seven shutout innings with a walk and seven strikeouts.
Arizona’s scheduled starter on Sunday, Michael Soroka (5-2, 3.53 ERA), has been impressive in his last two starts, allowing only one run and 10 hits over 12 2/3 innings with three walks and 11 strikeouts.
Soroka, a right-hander, threw 6 1/3 innings of three-hit, shutout ball with a walk and five strikeouts in a 1-0 win over the host Texas Rangers on Monday.
“It started with Soroka. He did a really nice job — low pitch count, temptation to leave him in the game,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said after the contest.
Soroka threw 89 pitches, 59 for strikes.
“Again, just no matter the score, I always tell you guys, it doesn’t matter if we’re up or down by a bunch, I want to do the same thing,” Lovullo said.
Soroka is 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA in two career appearances against the Rockies. He has surrendered nine hits in 10 innings, with four walks and 15 strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
