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Armas hopes to extend Pirates' winning streak

Aug 21, 2007 - 2:44 PM Pittsburgh (53-70) at Colorado (63-61) 9:05 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) - August has been good to Tony Armas, Jr. and his Pittsburgh Pirates. They hope it can continue on Tuesday as they continue their four-game series with the Colorado Rockies.

The Pirates, 11-8 this month, are on pace for their first winning month in part due to their three-game winning streak. Part of that success can be attributed to Armas (2-3, 6.58 ERA), who is 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA since being inserted into the rotation on August 1. Prior to August, the righthander was 0-3 with a 6.93 ERA in 20 appearances, including seven starts.

Armas will need to reverse his track record against the Rockies, however, as he is 2-2 with a 7.26 ERA in nine career starts and one relief appearances. He escaped without receiving a decision in Thursday's 10-7 win against the New York Mets despite surrendering five runs and six hits over 2 2/3 innings as his offense overcame an early 5-0 deficit.

The Rockies will counter with Elmer Dessens (1-1, 7.32), who will be making just his second start for Colorado since being recalled from the minors on Thursday in place of the injured Aaron Cook. In that outing, he surrendered five runs and six hits with four strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings in a 11-9 loss at San Diego.

The veteran righthander is 3-6 with a 4.60 ERA in 22 total appearances - 11 starts and 11 relief appearances - against the Pirates.