Diamondbacks-Rockies preview
DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies are being tested, in particular rookie closer Carlos Estevez. They have dropped two one-run games to the Arizona Diamondbacks with Estevez suffering both defeats. Before the Rockies lost 10-9 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss reflected on Thursday night when the Rockies tied the game with three runs in the ninth only to lose 7-6. "It's tough any time you lose late," Weiss said. "But I don't worry about that having a carryover effect on our club. They've proven to me time and time again that they bounce back well. Some losses sting more than others, but I don't worry about these guys showing up the right way the next day." Indeed, the Rockies overcame a five-run deficit Friday and went ahead 9-8 with a four-run lead before the Diamondbacks scored twice off closer Estevez to send the Rockies to another bitter loss and another test of their resiliency. "I still have confidence in how I pitch, and my team (does) too," said Estevez, who has allowed six hits and three runs in two innings while suffering a blown save and two losses in his past two games. "I know they have my back. Walt's shown before he's going to put his confidence in me. I'm confident right now that things are going to get better. Rough few days. We're going to wash it off and we're going to get going again." The Rockies will try to do that behind Jorge De La Rosa, who is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts since he returned to the rotation June 14. The Diamondbacks, who used their entire eight-man bullpen Friday night and are likely to recall a reliever, will counter with Shelby Miller. He's 2-6 with a 6.36 ERA in 11 starts overall. But after being on the disabled list from May 25 through June 19 with a right index finger sprain, Miller was reinstated Monday and started that day at Philadelphia. He allowed one earned run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings with one walk and five strikeouts and was the winning pitcher in Arizona's 3-1 victory. "I think just taking the break and getting the finger all healed and getting the mental break has helped him," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. "He could work on his stuff, (had) more confidence in his cutter. His split's been real good. And he's been real good in the one game we saw." The Phillies had lost six straight and scored 11 runs in those defeats before Miller faced them. The Rockies have dropped three straight games and six of their past eight but have not had a problem scoring runs. Indeed, in their three straight losses they have tallied 23 runs. Hale is not jumping to any conclusions about Miller, preferring to take a one-start-at-a-time attitude. "And we know his next one's going to be here in this ballpark," Hale said of Coors Field, where Miller is 0-1 with a 9.39 ERA in two career starts. "It's not going to be easy. I've said this many times, I believe this lineup that they throw out there every day even without (injured Gerardo) Parra in it is as good as any lineup we see." |