Chris Capuano tries to keep his perfect record intact this evening when the Los Angeles Dodgers open a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.
Capuano has been terrific for the Dodgers, going 4-0 with a 2.21 earned run average after two straight scoreless outings. He's never had three consecutive starts without allowing a run in his eight year career.
The left-hander, who had to undergo Tommy John surgery twice, has not given up a run in his last 18 2/3 innings dating back to last season.
"Look out, Orel Hershiser," Capuano joked, referencing the former Dodger who holds the Major League record by tossing 59 consecutive scoreless innings. "Only about 40 more."
The Dodgers, who are 5-1 in Capuano's six starts this season, come into this series on the heels of taking two of three from the San Francisco Giants after a 6-2 win in Wednesday's rubber match.
Los Angeles will need to get Matt Kemp going, as the All-Star outfielder has now gone a season-high eight straight games without homering after going deep a league-high 12 times in his first 23.
Tonight, though, the Dodgers go up against the ageless Jamie Moyer, who is just 1-2 with a 4.01 ERA, but has been the victim of poor run support at times this season. That hasn't been the case of late, though, for the left-hander as Moyer has allowed nine runs in his last two starts spanning 10 innings, escaping with a no-decision each time.
Moyer, who became the oldest pitcher to win a big league game back on April 17, is just 3-5 lifetime versus the Dodgers with a 5.17 ERA in 12 starts. He's 0-2 with a 10.26 ERA in three starts against them since last beating them in 2000.
Actually Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly's 20 at-bats against Moyer are more than all but two current Los Angeles hitters.
"I faced him," Mattingly said. "He was a soft tosser then. It's not like he went from Nolan Ryan to what he's doing now. He was always crafty. I'm sure he's a lot like he was in Philly and the last few times we saw him."
Colorado snapped a five-game skid on Wednesday, as Wilin Rosario and Chris Nelson drove in two runs apiece to help the Rockies salvage the finale of a three-game set with the Padres, 6-2.
Christian Friedrich (1-0) picked up the win with a strong start in his major league debut, allowing five hits and two runs -- one earned -- with seven strikeouts over six innings.
"I've been playing with these guys for four years in spring training and I know them, and to finally have them playing behind me, it's just awesome to be out there with them and get a great team win," Friedrich said.
Colorado took two of three from the Dodgers earlier in the year.
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