National League Preview from The Sports Network
Wednesday, September 26th
(All times Eastern)
Chicago Cubs (59-95) at Colorado Rockies (60-94), 8:40 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Chicago - Jason Berken (0-1, 1.80)
Colorado - Drew Pomeranz (1-9, 5.30)
(Sports Network) - Drew Pomeranz shoots for his first victory in nearly three
months on Wednesday evening as the Colorado Rockies resume a three-game set
with the Chicago Cubs.
Pomeranz has gone 0-6 in 13 start since his last victory on July 6, going the
required five innings to even be eligible for a win just three times in that
span. He has struggled at times with his control, forcing him out early due to
the club's 75-pitch limit for its starters.
That was the case for the 23-year-old southpaw on Friday versus the Arizona
Diamondbacks as he yielded four runs on four hits and five walks over three
innings. He did not factor into a 15-5 loss.
"Drew Pomeranz did not throw strikes. We went to the fourth inning tied at
four. We got the first two guys out on six or seven pitches, and they ended up
batting around and scoring four runs. That's going to take a lot of air out of
your balloon, believe me," Colorado manager Jim Tracy said.
Pomeranz sits just 1-9 with a 5.30 earned run average in 20 starts this season
and is winless in 10 outings at home. He is 0-5 with a 5.44 ERA in 10 starts
at Coors Field this season.
He faced the Cubs for the first time in his career on Aug. 24, giving up two
solo homers over five innings without a decision.
Chicago counter's with 28-year-old Jason Berken, who makes his third start
since being acquired off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles in early
September.
Berken struggled in his Cubs debut on Sept. 15, touched for six runs -- two
earned -- over four innings of a loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The righty,
though, was much improved on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds, yielding
two hits and a pair of walks over six scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
"For me, it's just a matter of stringing together a couple more good starts
and going into the offseason on a positive note," said Berken, who did not get
a decision and faces the Rockies for the first time in his career tonight.
The Rockies earned a 10-5 victory in an opener on Tuesday that was shortened
to seven innings due to rain.
Matt McBride hit a three-run homer, while both Josh Rutledge and Tyler Colvin
both drove in a pair of runs. DJ LeMahieu finished a home run shy of the
cycle, drove in a run and scored twice for the Rockies, who have won two
straight games after dropping nine in a row.
"The job that our young kids are doing offensively is ... beyond impressive,"
said Tracy.
Dave Sappelt hit his first career home run for the Cubs, who have dropped
three straight and seven of their last eight games.
"We came out swinging the bats really well," said Cubs manager Dale Sveum.
"Obviously we couldn't get them to make any soft contact, that's for sure."
Chris Rusin made his sixth major league start and was charged with six runs on
seven hits before departing with runners on second and third and two down in
the fourth inning.
The Cubs took two of three over the Rockies at home from Aug. 24-26.
09/26 10:48:35 ET

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