Rockies 1 - 2 Reds
Final
  for this game

Reds try to avoid 10th straight loss in clash with Rockies

May 26, 2015 - 7:35 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Cincinnati Reds are confident things will change and hope to stop a nine-game losing streak Tuesday in the middle portion of a three-game series versus the Colorado Rockies.

"I look forward to it turning around," Reds outfielder Jay Bruce said. "It can go nine in a row the other way. The biggest deal is, when that opportunity comes, we have to be ready for it."

The Reds are 3-12 in their last 15 games and haven't dropped 10 in a row since an 11-game slide from June 14-24, 1998. In Monday's 5-4 loss to the Rockies, Todd Frazier hit a two-run homer in the first inning to stake the Reds to a 2-1 lead and Marlon Byrd added a solo shot. Byrd has eight homers and 17 RBI in May.

Colorado broke a 4-4 tie when Charlie Blackmon scored on a Nolan Arenado sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning. Frazier then drew a two-out walk in the bottom half, but Bruce flied out to end the game. Bruce had three hits and closer Aroldis Chapman absorbed the loss.

"We shouldn't have to play a completely perfect game to win," said Reds manager Bryan Price. "We swung the bats better with 14 baserunners, but we just couldn't finish it off."

Jason Marquis started for Cincinnati and allowed four runs (2 earned) and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Michael Lorenzen hopes to play stopper when he takes the mound for Cincinnati Tuesday. Lorenzen is 1-1 with a 3.79 earned run average in five games (3 starts) and the rookie hasn't recorded a decision in each of his last three appearances. In Wednesday's 7-1 loss at Kansas City, he threw a scoreless inning and allowed one hit.

Lorenzen threw five innings of one-run ball in a 4-3 road loss against the Chicago White Sox on May 10 and his only career win came at Pittsburgh on May 5, when he tossed six innings of one-run ball.

The Rockies have won three in a row and are searching for their longest winning streak since opening the campaign 4-0.

Arenado led the charge on Memorial Day with three hits, including a home run, and three RBI, while DJ LeMahieu added a pair of hits with two RBI for Colorado, which began a six-game, seven-day road trip on a high note.

"I just want to do what I can. When I have the opportunity to drive runs in, I'm going to do my best to do it," Arenado said. "It's not going to work out every time."

LeMahieu has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games and is riding an eight-game hitting streak, batting .400 in that span (12-for-30).

Relief pitcher Rafael Betancourt picked up the win Monday with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief and Eddie Butler started for the Rockies, charged with four runs in six innings.

Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez sat out with an illness and is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday.

The Rockies have scored five or more runs in six straight games and look to give Chris Rusin some support tonight, as he makes a spot start in place of Jorge De La Rosa, who was scratched with a cut in his hand.

Rusin, who will be recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to make the start, made four relief appearances for the Rockies last season and pitched to a 7.11 ERA without recording a decision. He was 3-2 with a 6.29 ERA in seven games (6 starts) for Albuquerque.

He has made two starts against the Reds and is 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA against them.

Colorado went 4-3 against Cincinnati last season and will host the Reds for three games in July.






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