D-backs hit road in search of winning ways
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Although their hopes of making a playoff push took a big hit at home, the Arizona Diamondbacks should feel good about winning back-to-back road series for the first time.
Seeking a fifth straight road win, Arizona tries to continue its success against the last-place Colorado Rockies on Monday night in the first of four meetings over three days.
The Diamondbacks (63-67) were five games back of the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 23 after sweeping a four-game series in Cincinnati. Now it'll likely take an improbable run to make up the difference following an ill-timed 1-6 homestand.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}David Peralta went 3 for 4 with his 14th homer and drove in the tying run in the ninth Sunday, but Oakland scored three in the 11th off closer Brad Ziegler for a 7-4 victory.
"Just poor play on this homestand. It's disappointing after coming off a pretty good series in Cincinnati," manager Chip Hale said.
Hale's club looks to regroup with its longest road winning streak since May 2013. Arizona then plays two at Coors Field on Tuesday to make up a May postponement.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Diamondbacks have hit .332 and averaged 6.9 runs while winning eight of 12 versus Colorado.
Paul Goldschmidt is hitting .416 with 19 RBIs in his last 18 matchups and is one walk away from setting a single-season franchise record with 101. Peralta is batting .368 in his past 11 meetings, while A.J. Pollock is batting .390 in his past nine.
They'll try to continue that trend against a Rockies rotation that has posted a 7.34 ERA during a 5-12 stretch at Coors.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Colorado (52-76) is looking to win back-to-back games for only the second time since Aug. 7 after closing a 3-3 trip with Sunday's 5-0 win at Pittsburgh.
In his first start since missing five weeks with right elbow inflammation, Chad Bettis (6-4, 4.69 ERA) allowed one run over five innings in a 5-1 win at Atlanta on Tuesday. The right-hander has limited opponents to three runs or less in 11 of his last 13 starts.
"He picked up where he left off," manager Walt Weiss told MLB's official website.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bettis has never started against Arizona but has a 23.14 ERA over three relief appearances.
Robbie Ray (3-10, 3.86) looks to avoid becoming the first pitcher in Diamondbacks history to lose six games in a month. He's 0-6 with a 6.25 ERA in his last seven starts.
The left-hander was given an extra day of rest after arguably his worst outing of the season. He gave up season highs of six runs and five walks in Tuesday's 9-1 home loss to St. Louis.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ray has been much more comfortable on the road, posting a 2.75 ERA in nine starts. In his only career outing at Colorado, he yielded one run in six innings of a 5-1 win May 6.
The Rockies are 5-23 when facing left-handed starters and they'll see Ray and Patrick Corbin in the first two of this eight-game homestand. Charlie Blackmon is batting .230 in 122 at-bats versus lefties, while Carlos Gonzalez is hitting .200 over 110 at-bats.
Blackmon, who had two hits Sunday, is batting .382 over a nine-game hitting streak at Coors. He's also hitting .427 in 22 career home meetings against the Diamondbacks.