Jose Fernandez aims to continue his impressive unbeaten string on Saturday when the Miami Marlins continue their three-game set against the Colorado Rockies.
The 21-year-old rookie right-hander has limited opponents to two runs or less in each of his last seven starts, going 4-0 with a 1.53 ERA in those appearances. His four-game winning streak is the longest for a Marlins pitcher this season. Also, he has limited opponents to a .189 average, second-best in the majors behind Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fernandez, who hasn't lost since July 7 at St. Louis, is an incredible 6-0 with a 1.40 ERA in his first 12 career home starts.
Fernandez faced Colorado on July 23 at Coors Field and picked up the win by holding the Rockies to two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts in a seven- inning performance.
Jeff Manship has lost all three of his starts this season. The righty, who counters for the Rockies tonight, allowed six hits and five runs in five innings at Philadelphia on Monday.
Manship hasn't posted a win since Sept. 6, 2010 against Kansas City when he was pitching in relief for the Minnesota Twins.
Ryan Wheeler's RBI double capped a two-run eighth inning and Michael Cuddyer brought home a pair of runs to help lift the Rockies to a 3-2 win last night. Cuddyer picked up his two RBI on a fielder's choice in the sixth and a single in the eighth to help halt Colorado's losing skid at two.
"I finally felt comfortable just getting called up and getting limited opportunities so far," Wheeler said. "I was feeling pretty good in that fourth at-bat."
Jhoulys Chacin (12-7) took the mound for Colorado. The right-hander allowed only two runs on four hits with five strikeouts and four walks for his first career winning decision against the Marlins.
Tom Koehler spun seven innings for Miami, only surrendering one run on six hits while fanning five batters. Koehler has not picked up a win since August 1.
It was relief pitcher Chad Qualls (4-2) who would absorb the loss and a blown save. Qualls allowed two runs on three hits in the eighth inning to hand Colorado the win.
"Qualls has been so good all year for us," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "It was so huge in that eighth inning. He was up in the zone and flat, couldn't close them out."
Donovan Solano went 2-for-4 for the Marlins, who have now lost four consecutive games.
Ed Lucas hit a deep solo shot to center field in the bottom of the fifth for the Marlins to open up the game's scoring and snap a scoreless streak that went back 21 innings.
Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki brings a 10-game hitting streak into tonight's game.
The Marlins took three of four games when the teams last met in Colorado from July 22-25.
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