The Rockies are turning over a few more lineup cards Wednesday afternoon, and they’re doing it with a series win on the line at Chase Field.
Colorado enters the finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 47-73 after evening the set with a 3-2 win on Tuesday. That came after the opener got away from them in a 9-0 loss, so the rubber game now carries a very different feel.
The biggest change is the absence of Kyle Karros. He gave Colorado a lift Tuesday with a two-run homer in the sixth to wipe out a 2-0 deficit, but later in the game he ran into shortstop Ezequiel Tovar while both went after a ground ball. Karros is now on the seven-day concussion protocol injured list, and the Rockies responded by recalling infielder Adael Amador from Triple-A Albuquerque.
Manager Warren Schaeffer has had to reshuffle with Karros out and Merrill Kelly waiting on the other side for Arizona.
Jake McCarthy is still leading off, but he’s moving from left field to center. Cole Carrigg, who keeps making noise, jumps to second after going 2-for-4 on Tuesday. He’s now hitting .295 with an .876 OPS.
TJ Rumfield is back in the lineup at first base and hitting third. Hunter Goodman is out of his catching spot and will serve as the designated hitter. Willi Castro gets the start at third in Karros’ place.
Veen stays in the mix after being called up Tuesday, another sign the Rockies are looking at him as part of the group they want to build around.
Colorado is giving the ball to Ryan Feltner, who comes in at 4-6 with a 5.71 ERA and 59 strikeouts. Kelly goes for Arizona with an 8-9 record, a 4.88 ERA and 80 strikeouts.
The Rockies’ pitching staff gave them a real opening Tuesday. Tomoyuki Sugano held Arizona to two runs over six innings, then Jimmy Herget, Brennan Bernardino and Jordan Romano finished off three scoreless innings.
And once again, Goodman was right in the middle of it. He scored the go-ahead run after tripling in the seventh, then coming home on a Moniak sacrifice fly.
Now Colorado gets a shot to turn one solid night into something bigger. That’s been the hard part all season. The lineup has to adjust without Karros and deliver in a deciding game.
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