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Porcello seeks to secure 13th victory vs. Rockies

Aug 2, 2014 - 3:09 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Rick Porcello makes another attempt at a 13th victory on Saturday night as the Detroit Tigers continue a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies.

Though he has won four of his last five decisions, Porcello has not factored into the outcome of his last two outings to remain 12-5 on the year with a 3.24 earned run average.

The right-hander is attempting to join teammate Max Scherzer as the lone 13- game winners in the American League and did not get a decision on Sunday versus the Los Angeles Angels even though he was only charged with one unearned run over seven innings. Porcello worked around five hits and struck out six without a walk

Porcello, 25, has faced the Rockies twice before, splitting two decisions with a 7.00 ERA.

Tyler Matzek counters for the Rockies having had his original start pushed back for rest.

The left-hander is 2-5 with a 4.39 ERA in 10 games this season with nine starts. He beat Pittsburgh on July 26 with seven scoreless innings of three- hit ball, then came into the 16th inning of a marathon versus the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. Matzek recorded two outs in the frame, but yielded the winning run to take a loss.

With the 23-year-old used in relief, Colorado pushed back his start from Thursday to tonight.

"We felt like we just needed to get him a couple more days," Rockies manager Walt Weiss told his team's website. "We didn't feel like we had to make any big adjustments. Just wanted to get him a couple more days of rest."

Detroit claimed Friday's opener 4-2 as Justin Verlander continued his dominance of the National League. He hurled eight innings of two-run ball, improving to 25-2 for his career versus the NL with 14 straight wins.

"He went out there and attacked the hitters," said Rajai Davis, who had a pair of RBI and scored twice. "We played good defense behind him and we were fortunate enough to win."

Ian Kinsler hit an RBI double during a three-run fifth inning and Victor Martinez had an RBI single for the Tigers, who won for just the second time in their last seven games.

Franklin Morales gave up three runs and walked four in six innings of work, leaving the Rockies at 2-16 in their last 18 road games.

Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez made a sliding catch into the wall in foul territory to end the fifth inning, but left the game after aggravating a right ankle sprain.

"Sliding into the wall making that catch was a great play, but he got his ankle. It's the same ankle that he's been nursing," Weiss said.

This is the first time these teams have met since 2012 when Detroit won a three-game set against the Rockies.