Colorado Rockies seek 4th consecutive victory; Carlos Gonzalez aims to build on Friday success

Last weekend, I took an early look at batted ball velocity among Rockies position players. I found that Carlos Gonzalez led the team in batted balls of at least 100 miles per hour with seven. Each of those balls, however, came during the opening three game set against the Milwaukee Brewers. For his efforts in those games, CarGo had five hits in 14 plate appearances. After the Rockies left Milwaukee, however, Gonzalez's bat went silent. Until April 23, he had five hits total in 47 plate appearances. And Gonzalez only hit one ball more than 100 mph during that time—a line out to center field on April 18. Last Wednesday, Walt Weiss dropped Gonzalez to the six spot in the lineup in the hopes that decreased pressure to produce might get him out of his funk.

For the first time in a while, CarGo's bat came awake last night. He had two hits, a double and a single. Most encouraging, however, was that the double was a line drive to the opposite field, and that both hits were hit hard—DJ LeMahieu's check swing double these were not. The single came off Gonzalez's bat at 100 mph and the double at 107. Prior to today's game, Walt Weiss noted that CarGo hitting the ball with authority to the opposite field was a "good sign." Not only that, but Weiss indicated that CarGo had been hitting the ball in such a way during batting practice: He "took it to the game." The Rockies have been playing well without Gonzalez offering much. It would be an enormous boost if last night's good signs prove to be more than just a one night affair. CarGo is in the six spot again tonight agains the San Francisco Giants.

Jorge De La Rosa gets the start for the Rockies in tonight's game. It'll be his second start of the year. De La Rosa can't but improve from his two inning, nine hit, nine run outing from last week. Tim Hudson will be making his fourth start of the year for the Giants. The 39 year-old comes in to tonight's game with a 3.93 ERA and a ground ball rate of 60 percent.

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<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>

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<th align="left">SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS</th>

<th align="left">COLORADO ROCKIES</th>

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<tr><td class="td-last td-name">Norichika Aoki - LF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Charlie Blackmon - CF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Matt Duffy - 2B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Corey Dickerson - LF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Angel Pagan - CF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Troy Tulowitzki - SS</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Buster Posey - 1B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Justin Morneau - 1B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Justin Maxwell - RF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Nolan Arenado - 3B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Andrew Susac - C</td><td class="td-first td-name">Carlos Gonzalez - RF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Casey McGehee - 3B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Nick Hundley - C</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Brandon Crawford - SS</td><td class="td-first td-name">DJ LeMahieu - 2B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Tim Hudson - RHP</td><td class="td-first td-name">Jorge De La Rosa - LHP</td></tr></tbody>

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