(Sports Network) - When Juan Nicasio first took on the Diamondbacks back in
mid-April, he was still shaking off the rust of an extended layoff caused by a
serious neck injury.
The Rockies hurler gets a rematch with Arizona this afternoon days after an
excellent outing in the finale of a two-game series at Colorado.
Nicasio faced the Diamondbacks on April 13, his second start of the season
since having his rookie campaign end last Aug. 5 after he was hit in the head
by a liner. It was also his first start at home, where the scary incident
occurred, and Nicasio lasted just 2 2/3 innings while allowing six runs on
five hits and five walks.
The right-hander is 2-1 with a 4.65 earned run average in seven starts overall
this season and gave up six runs over five frames in a loss to the Braves on
May 6. However, he was much sharper six days later at the Dodgers, hurling
seven innings of one-run ball while scattering five hits without a walk and
fanning a season-high nine. Nicasio did not get a decision in a 2-1 loss
though.
"He pounded the strike zone with his fastball and between the slider and the
changeup, he had enough to keep them at bay the entire time he was out there,"
said Rockies manager Jim Tracy of his 25-year-old hurler.
For the Diamondbacks, Trevor Cahill gets the call today hoping to avoid a
third straight loss.
The right-hander lost for the fourth time in his past five outings on Saturday
versus the Giants, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks in 5 2/3
frames of a 5-2 setback. Cahill fell to 2-4 with a 3.65 ERA this year and
Arizona has been outscored 24-6 in his four defeats.
Cahill, 24. faced the Rockies for the second time in his career on April 15
and picked up his first victory against them. He allowed a run over 7 1/3
innings while striking out six.
Colorado picked up its second victory in a row last night, downing Arizona
6-1. Jamie Moyer gave up a run over 6 1/3 innings and struck out five. He also
became the oldest player in league history to record an RBI when he legged out
a two-run single in the fourth.
"Off the bat I thought it was going to roll foul," said Moyer. "I hit it off
the end of the bat and just thought it was going to go foul. I hesitated a bit
then thought I should probably run."
Dexter Fowler drove in two runs while falling a homer shy of the cycle, while
Jordan Pacheco had two hits and scored twice.
Patrick Corbin was charged with all six runs over six frames in the setback,
Arizona's 11th in its last 14 games.
"We didn't have as good a command as we'd like to have," said Arizona manager
Kirk Gibson. "We just didn't play well at all and didn't give ourselves an
opportunity to win the ball game."
John McDonald went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored for Arizona.
The D-Backs won 13 of 18 versus the Rockies a season ago, including six of
nine in Colorado, but dropped two of three on the road versus the Rockies in
mid-April.
The Sports Network