The start of a nine-game homestand didn't get off as planned for the Baltimore Orioles and they'll try to bounce back Saturday in the middle portion of a three-game series versus the Colorado Rockies.
The Orioles suffered a 6-3 loss to the Rockies Friday night at Camden Yards and starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen battled through 6 1/3 innings, charged with four runs and five hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. He allowed two home runs in falling to 6-6 on the season.
Nate McLouth and Matt Wieters each had a home run for the Orioles, losers in four straight and five of six games. The O's have also dropped three in a row at home and are four games behind in the wild card race. They're also 5 1/2 games in back of Boston for the AL East lead.
"We have some guys with a really good track record. We hope to get back there tomorrow," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of his team's skid.
Baltimore relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez left Friday's game in the eighth inning with a right groin strain and is day-to-day. Rodriguez and closer Jim Johnson allowed a home run apiece to the Rockies.
Bud Norris draws the start for Baltimore Saturday and he is 2-1 with a 3.12 earned run average in four games (3 starts) since coming over via trade with the Houston Astros. Norris pitched in relief in Wednesday's 5-4 loss at Arizona and took the loss in the 14th inning.
Norris is 0-1 with a 7.40 ERA in four career starts against the Rockies.
Colorado has won two straight and six of seven games, and opened a 10-game east coast trip with Friday's win.
Wilin Rosario hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning, while Todd Helton, Charlie Culberson and Charlie Blackmon all went deep. The Rockies had lost five in a row and nine of 10 road games.
Juan Nicasio picked up the win with six innings of two-run ball.
"He had to battle and work real hard, but he did a really nice job," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said of his starter.
The Rockies are expected to have closer Rafael Betancourt back off the disabled list Saturday due to an emergency appendectomy.
Chad Bettis gets the start for Colorado Saturday and he is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in three starts. He has posted consecutive no-decisions and threw six solid innings of two-run ball in a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday.
The right-hander will face the Orioles for the first time.
Baltimore and Colorado are meeting for the first time since the Rockies took two of three matchups back in 2007.
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