Preview: Giants (22-18) at Rockies (14-23)
Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: May 22, 2015 8:10 PM EDT
The San Francisco Giants ended their previous series against one of the NL's best teams without surrendering a run.
Now they get to face one of the league's worst.
Ryan Vogelsong will be tasked with maintaining the Giants' winning and shutout streaks Friday night in the opener of a four-game series with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
The Giants (23-18) are riding high after extending their win streak to six by sweeping the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers to become the first team since Milwaukee in July 2013 to not allow a run over a three-game series.
San Francisco last accomplished the feat June 25-27, 2012, also against the Dodgers, and with one three-game shutout streak already under their belt May 3-5, the Giants became the first team since Atlanta in 1992 to have multiple streaks of three games in one season.
San Francisco hasn't won seven in a row since an eight-game run in September 2011, and it has won 20 of 29 after getting off to a poor start.
"Your offense, your pitching, sometimes it's up and down but what you do is come out and play hard and fight for nine innings," manager Bruce Bochy said. "They never stopped that."
Vogelsong (2-2, 5.31 ERA) has been solid recently, touting a 1.37 ERA over his last three starts while holding batters to a .181 average.
He has been terrible in his last five starts against Colorado, however, going 0-3 with a 10.55 ERA. All three of those decisions came at Coors Field behind a 13.50 ERA.
Vogelsong matched a career high with eight runs allowed Sept. 3 at Colorado and tied the second-shortest start of his career with 1 1-3 innings and five runs allowed on three homers at Coors Field on April 21, 2014.
Troy Tulowitzki has surprisingly inflicted none of that damage, going 0 for 10 against the right-hander - one of two pitchers Tulowitzki has failed to record a hit against in at least 10 at_bats.
Carlos Gonzalez has also struggled in the matchup, managing one hit in 15 at_bats and striking out five times.
The rest of Colorado's lineup has done just fine. Michael McKenry and Nolan Arenado are a combined 8 for 18 with two home runs apiece against Vogelsong, and Wilin Rosario has three homers.
Colorado (15-23) beat Philadelphia 7-3 on Thursday to win two of the last three in the four-game series. McKenry hit a two-run homer and Brandon Barnes went 4 for 4 in his second game of the season after being recalled Wednesday.
"Some guys contributed, some guys that have been role players so far," said manager Walt Weiss, whose team hasn't won two in a row since a three-game run April 22-24.
Kyle Kendrick (1-5, 6.70) will take the mound after allowing three runs over 14 innings in his last two starts, but he's still winless since the season opener.
The right-hander made five starts against the Giants during his eight-year stint with the Phillies, going 1-2 with a 5.81 ERA.
Justin Morneau is eligible to return from the seven-day concussion disabled list Friday but is still not ready to play. Morneau missed time with concussions in 2005, '10 and '11.
"It's a concern. It's still a mild concern," Weiss told MLB's official website. "He's showing improvement, getting better, but it's all tied to his history."
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Giants at Rockies
Fri, May 22 - 8:10PM EDT
GAME 2
Giants at Rockies
Sat, May 23 - 4:10PM EDT
GAME 3
Giants at Rockies
Sun, May 24 - 4:10PM EDT
Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: May 22, 2015 8:10 PM EDT
The San Francisco Giants ended their previous series against one of the NL's best teams without surrendering a run.
Now they get to face one of the league's worst.
Ryan Vogelsong will be tasked with maintaining the Giants' winning and shutout streaks Friday night in the opener of a four-game series with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
The Giants (23-18) are riding high after extending their win streak to six by sweeping the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers to become the first team since Milwaukee in July 2013 to not allow a run over a three-game series.
San Francisco last accomplished the feat June 25-27, 2012, also against the Dodgers, and with one three-game shutout streak already under their belt May 3-5, the Giants became the first team since Atlanta in 1992 to have multiple streaks of three games in one season.
San Francisco hasn't won seven in a row since an eight-game run in September 2011, and it has won 20 of 29 after getting off to a poor start.
"Your offense, your pitching, sometimes it's up and down but what you do is come out and play hard and fight for nine innings," manager Bruce Bochy said. "They never stopped that."
Vogelsong (2-2, 5.31 ERA) has been solid recently, touting a 1.37 ERA over his last three starts while holding batters to a .181 average.
He has been terrible in his last five starts against Colorado, however, going 0-3 with a 10.55 ERA. All three of those decisions came at Coors Field behind a 13.50 ERA.
Vogelsong matched a career high with eight runs allowed Sept. 3 at Colorado and tied the second-shortest start of his career with 1 1-3 innings and five runs allowed on three homers at Coors Field on April 21, 2014.
Troy Tulowitzki has surprisingly inflicted none of that damage, going 0 for 10 against the right-hander - one of two pitchers Tulowitzki has failed to record a hit against in at least 10 at_bats.
Carlos Gonzalez has also struggled in the matchup, managing one hit in 15 at_bats and striking out five times.
The rest of Colorado's lineup has done just fine. Michael McKenry and Nolan Arenado are a combined 8 for 18 with two home runs apiece against Vogelsong, and Wilin Rosario has three homers.
Colorado (15-23) beat Philadelphia 7-3 on Thursday to win two of the last three in the four-game series. McKenry hit a two-run homer and Brandon Barnes went 4 for 4 in his second game of the season after being recalled Wednesday.
"Some guys contributed, some guys that have been role players so far," said manager Walt Weiss, whose team hasn't won two in a row since a three-game run April 22-24.
Kyle Kendrick (1-5, 6.70) will take the mound after allowing three runs over 14 innings in his last two starts, but he's still winless since the season opener.
The right-hander made five starts against the Giants during his eight-year stint with the Phillies, going 1-2 with a 5.81 ERA.
Justin Morneau is eligible to return from the seven-day concussion disabled list Friday but is still not ready to play. Morneau missed time with concussions in 2005, '10 and '11.
"It's a concern. It's still a mild concern," Weiss told MLB's official website. "He's showing improvement, getting better, but it's all tied to his history."
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Giants at Rockies
Fri, May 22 - 8:10PM EDT
GAME 2
Giants at Rockies
Sat, May 23 - 4:10PM EDT
GAME 3
Giants at Rockies
Sun, May 24 - 4:10PM EDT
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