Orioles, Rockies Enter Rubber Match In Three-Game Interleague Series
Jones drove in two runs and scored the game-winner in the 10th inning of Monday's 3-2 triumph and followed it up with a two-run homer and two runs scored on Tuesday. The rest of the team managed four hits in each of the two contests and the Baltimore lineup is 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position in the series as the club clings to a slim lead in the American League East. The Rockies showed off the explosive middle of their order in Tuesday's 6-3 victory, with Nolan Arenado, Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor Story combining for five RBIs. Colorado has won five of its last six games and has a chance to impact races in both leagues in front of the trade deadline with a series at the New York Mets coming up this weekend.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Gray (6-4, 4.12 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (3-2, 3.30)
Gray dominated in his last two starts, both against the major league-worst Atlanta Braves, allowing a total of one run in 14 innings while striking out 16. The 24-year-old turned in a quality start in each of his last four outings with 28 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings in that span. Gray is seeing Baltimore for the first time in his career and struggled a bit in his last two starts against AL East clubs with a total of eight runs allowed in 11 innings against New York and Toronto in June.
Bundy will make his third straight start after tossing a career-high 87 pitches in a win over the Cleveland Indians on Friday. The 23-year-old struck out five in as many innings without walking a batter and allowed one unearned run in the 5-1 final. Bundy last faced an National League club when he worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief at the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 6, notching all seven outs via strikeout.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles 1B Chris Davis is 0-for-24 with 11 strikeouts in his last seven games.
2. Colorado OF Gerardo Parra (ankle) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Hartford on Friday.
3. Baltimore C Matt Wieters (foot) is 0-for-8 in two games since returning from a six-game absence.
PREDICTION: Orioles 4, Rockies 3