Marlins Looking To Keep Winning Streak Alive
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MIAMI (AP) – Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton continues crushing baseballs, and now those long home runs finally are starting to come in Miami's victories.
Stanton has homered in three straight games to match the club's win streak and he'll look to improve his already solid numbers at Coors Field on Saturday against the Colorado Rockies.
Stanton's latest blast traveled an estimated 478 feet, helping the surging Marlins (23-32) beat the Rockies 6-2 on Friday for their fifth victory in seven tries.
He has seven hits over his last six games with five leaving the ballpark, each coming in a win. None of his previous seven home runs helped the Marlins pick up a victory, and 10 of his last 11 have been solo shots.
Stanton is hitting .362 with eight homers and six doubles in five career games at Coors Field.
"I like the backdrop," Stanton said. "Forest green, my favorite backdrop."
The Marlins have scored 18 runs during a winning streak that has followed a 5-16 stretch. J.T. Realmuto went 4 for 4 with a triple and RBI single for Miami, which looks to keep rolling as Chris Rusin makes his second start for the Rockies (24-29).
Rusin (1-0, 0.77 ERA) was called up to start in place of then-injured starter Jorge De La Rosa on May 26, his first start in the majors since Sept. 24, 2013, while with the Chicago Cubs.
The left-hander allowed one run and four hits in seven innings of Colorado's 2-1 loss to Cincinnati. Rusin then came on in relief Sunday when Jordan Lyles left with an injury in the second inning, picking up the win after throwing 4 2-3 scoreless innings in a 4-1 victory over Philadelphia.
"I knew I was going to be the first guy out of the 'pen, so I was already aware, stretched and ready to go," said Rusin, who earned his first major league win since Aug. 9, 2013, against St. Louis. "It was tough, but I was fortunate enough to throw strikes, keep the ball down and get early contact."
Rusin has never faced the Marlins, who will send David Phelps to the mound.
Phelps (2-2, 3.50) has a 2.98 ERA in eight starts since joining the rotation after two appearances out of the bullpen. He's pitched at least six innings seven times, including Sunday when he went exactly that many while allowing two runs in a 4-3 loss to the New York Mets. The right-hander's 104 pitches marked a season high.
Phelps hasn't faced the Rockies since giving up two runs in six innings of a 3-2 victory while with the New York Yankees on May 8, 2013. He'll attempt to slow Troy Tulowitzki, who is 13 for 24 with four homers over his last six to raise his average from .266 to .303.
Tulowitzki improved to 7 for 15 in his last four against the Marlins after finishing with three hits Friday. He had an RBI single in the sixth and scored on Nolan Arenado's sacrifice fly in the eighth following a rain delay of 1 hour, 55 minutes.
Colorado also dealt with nearly 2 1/2 hours of delays against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
"It's almost like every time we play at home it's always raining," Carlos Gonzalez said. "You're going to lose your momentum. Fans leave."
Miami activated catcher Jeff Mathis off the disabled list before the series opener. He hasn't played since fracturing his right ring finger April 12 against Tampa Bay, and it's unclear if he'll play in this contest.
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