Tonight begins the final forty.
Jorge de la Rosa, who has won 9 of his last 10 starts and 10 of 12, will face Joe Martinez, whose most newsworthy appearance on the mound this season came when he was hit by a line drive off the head April 9 against Milwaukee. See left.
Martinez hasn't allowed more than 3 runs in any game, but this is the rookie's fourth career start, and he has yet to pitch past 5 innings. He throws a high 80's fastball almost 3/4's of the time, plus an average curve and change that are roughly the same speed (high 70's). He hasn't been a strikeout pitcher since A-ball, so this is a pitching matchup the Rockies absolutely must take advantage of. Plus, SBNation's data widget claims he is 19months old (he's actually 26. Years).
We need not only to win, but to send a message.
The trainer's report favors the Rockies tonight. Tulo is back, while Freddy Sanchez is out of the lineup again.