Reds-Rockies Preview By TAYLOR BECHTOLD STATS Writer
Carlos Gonzalez is riding the kind of hot streak that the Colorado Rockies dream about. They only wish it was leading to more wins. Given his recent success against the struggling Cincinnati Reds, Gonzalez figures to keep knocking the ball around Monday when the Rockies hope to avoid their third straight loss on this homestand. The 2015 Silver Slugger Award winner went 2 for 4 with his eighth home run in Sunday's 8-3 home loss to San Francisco. He's 14 for 29 with three homers over a seven-game hitting streak, though Colorado (23-26) has dropped five of those contests and eight of its last 11. Trevor Story provided one of the few highlights with his 14th homer, but Colorado went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position. The club lost a series at Cincinnati from April 18-20, though it has won six of the last eight home meetings with the last-place Reds (16-34). Gonzalez has played a key role, going 14 for 28 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in his last seven home games against the Reds. He's 13 for 28 with four homers and nine RBIs in his past seven matchups overall. The two-time All-Star, however, went 0 for 2 when facing right-hander Dan Straily in a 5-1 win at Great American Ball Park on April 18. Now Straily (2-2, 2.98 ERA) will try to put forth a similar effort after allowing one run and two hits over five innings in that contest. The right-hander hasn't given up more than three runs since joining the rotation in that meeting. He owns a 2.72 ERA over his last six starts after limiting the Dodgers to three runs while striking out a career high-tying 11 over seven innings in Wednesday's 3-1 road defeat. "There's some natural deception and movement," manager Bryan Price told the league's official website. "He's got a slider that's a swing-and-miss pitch, has a really nice changeup, so he's got a nice three-pitch mix. He uses his curveball, mixes that in a little bit." Straily will try to pick up a Cincinnati pitching staff that has posted a 6.85 ERA during the team's 1-12 stretch. Jay Bruce hit his ninth home run for the Reds on Sunday and he's batting .354 with three homers over his last 11 against the Rockies. Bruce and Adam Duvall homered off Monday's starter Chad Bettis in a 6-5 win April 20. The right-hander allowed three runs over six innings in that contest, but since then he has two quality starts in his last six. Bettis (4-3, 4.90) looks to regroup in the opener of this four-game series at Coors Field after he surrendered a season-high seven runs and seven hits over 4 2/3 innings in Wednesday's 10-3 loss at Boston. The Reds, 4-19 on the road, have averaged 3 runs and hit .191 over the past 12 games. Eugenio Suarez is mired in a career-worst 0-for-27 slump, while Joey Votto has hit .155 with two homers over his past 16. Brandon Phillips could be sidelined after appearing to jam his left leg and ankle while trying to make a play in foul territory Sunday. ''We'll see how he comes out of it tomorrow,'' Price said. |