Final
Rockies-Diamondbacks Preview
Apr 30, 2016 - 6:50 AM Nolan Arenado leading the majors in homers isn't exactly a surprise, but Trevor Story tying him has matched a rookie record.Both players take aim at the Colorado Rockies' mark for April on Saturday night against Zack Greinke and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Arenado led the NL with a career-high 42 homers last year and his 130 RBIs topped the majors, so having 10 homers through 22 games - including one in each of the last three - isn't at all unexpected.
What's been surprising is Story matching his 10 homers in his first 21 games to equal George Scott (1966) as the fastest player in history to reach the mark. It also tied the rookie record for April set by Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox in 2014.
"Maybe when it's all said and done it will be something cool to look back on, but right now I'm just worried about winning games," Story said.
He and Arenado helped Colorado (10-12) do that Friday, hitting one out each in a 9-0 romp of Arizona to open this three-game set.
The homers put both players on the verge of tying the Rockies record for April first set by Larry Walker in 1997 and matched by him in 2001.
Story has hit five of his homers in four games against the Diamondbacks (12-13), while Arenado has only managed to hit three in 28 career games at Chase Field. The All-Star third baseman is also 5 for 27 versus Greinke (2-2, 6.16 ERA), while Story homered on both of his hits against him in a 10-5 opening-day victory April 4.
Greinke got pulled from that outing after four innings, surrendering seven runs and three homers.
The right-hander's struggles in the desert have continued and he owns the fourth-highest qualifying ERA in the NL after leading the majors with a career-best 1.66 mark with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year.
Greinke has also compiled a 9.72 ERA while losing two of three starts at home. He earned a 12-7 win over St. Louis on Monday, but was hammered for seven runs and 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
"I thought I did all right. It's just kind of embarrassing giving up seven runs thinking you did all right," Greinke said. "I'll take it, as long as it's not like that all the time."
The Rockies have put Chris Rusin (1-0, 2.45) in the rotation in place of Jordan Lyles, who went 1-1 with a 7.64 ERA in four starts before being demoted to Triple-A Albuquerque earlier this week.
Rusin has tossed 9 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings over his last three outings, and he's not getting overly excited about starting.
"That's the best way to go about it because things change so much throughout the year," Rusin told MLB's official website. "You can't make too much of switching roles."
Rusin, however, should be accustomed to his new role since he started 42 of his 48 games over four seasons with the Rockies and Chicago Cubs prior to this season.
The left-hander, though, is 9-19 with a 5.21 ERA in his career as a starter. However, he's 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts against the Diamondbacks - all in the desert.
- COLORADO: 5
ARIZONA: 2
Final
Apr 30 11:27 PM - Nolan Arenado singles to left field. Carlos Gonzalez to second. Trevor Story scores.
Rockies 5, Diamondbacks 2 Top 9, 1 OutApr 30 11:08 PM - Trevor Story triples to deep right field. Charlie Blackmon scores. Ben Paulsen scores.
Rockies 4, Diamondbacks 2 Top 9, 1 OutApr 30 11:05 PM - Brandon Drury homers to left field. Jean Segura scores.
Rockies 2, Diamondbacks 2 Bot 6, 0 OutsApr 30 10:08 PM - Gerardo Parra singles to left field, advances to 2nd. Trevor Story scores.
Rockies 2, Diamondbacks 0 Top 3, 2 OutsApr 30 9:04 PM - Trevor Story doubles to deep left center field. Charlie Blackmon scores.
Rockies 1, Diamondbacks 0 Top 3, 0 OutsApr 30 8:57 PM - Charlie Blackmon reaches on third strike, tagged out at first, Welington Castillo to Paul Goldschmidt.
Apr 30 8:11 PM
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