Diamondbacks 9 - 7 Rockies
Final
  for this game

Diamondbacks, Rockies close out brief series

May 17, 2012 - 2:53 PM

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(Sports Network) - When Juan Nicasio first took on the Diamondbacks back in mid-April, he was still shaking off the rust of an extended layoff caused by a serious neck injury.

The Rockies hurler gets a rematch with Arizona this afternoon days after an excellent outing in the finale of a two-game series at Colorado.

Nicasio faced the Diamondbacks on April 13, his second start of the season since having his rookie campaign end last Aug. 5 after he was hit in the head by a liner. It was also his first start at home, where the scary incident occurred, and Nicasio lasted just 2 2/3 innings while allowing six runs on five hits and five walks.

The right-hander is 2-1 with a 4.65 earned run average in seven starts overall this season and gave up six runs over five frames in a loss to the Braves on May 6. However, he was much sharper six days later at the Dodgers, hurling seven innings of one-run ball while scattering five hits without a walk and fanning a season-high nine. Nicasio did not get a decision in a 2-1 loss though.

"He pounded the strike zone with his fastball and between the slider and the changeup, he had enough to keep them at bay the entire time he was out there," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy of his 25-year-old hurler.

For the Diamondbacks, Trevor Cahill gets the call today hoping to avoid a third straight loss.

The right-hander lost for the fourth time in his past five outings on Saturday versus the Giants, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks in 5 2/3 frames of a 5-2 setback. Cahill fell to 2-4 with a 3.65 ERA this year and Arizona has been outscored 24-6 in his four defeats.

Cahill, 24. faced the Rockies for the second time in his career on April 15 and picked up his first victory against them. He allowed a run over 7 1/3 innings while striking out six.

Colorado picked up its second victory in a row last night, downing Arizona 6-1. Jamie Moyer gave up a run over 6 1/3 innings and struck out five. He also became the oldest player in league history to record an RBI when he legged out a two-run single in the fourth.

"Off the bat I thought it was going to roll foul," said Moyer. "I hit it off the end of the bat and just thought it was going to go foul. I hesitated a bit then thought I should probably run."

Dexter Fowler drove in two runs while falling a homer shy of the cycle, while Jordan Pacheco had two hits and scored twice.

Patrick Corbin was charged with all six runs over six frames in the setback, Arizona's 11th in its last 14 games.

"We didn't have as good a command as we'd like to have," said Arizona manager Kirk Gibson. "We just didn't play well at all and didn't give ourselves an opportunity to win the ball game."

John McDonald went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored for Arizona.

The D-Backs won 13 of 18 versus the Rockies a season ago, including six of nine in Colorado, but dropped two of three on the road versus the Rockies in mid-April.






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