Rookie Bergman returns for Rox against Marlins

Published February 05, 2015

(SportsNetwork.com) - Rookie Christian Bergman will return from injury to make his first start in over two months as the Colorado Rockies close out a three- game series with the Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon.

Bergman went 0-2 with a 7.20 earned run average over the first three outings of his career, giving up five runs in the first two starts before a disastrous day on June 20 versus Milwaukee.

It was then that the right-hander was hit on his left hand by a line drive, suffering a fracture and exiting after having already given up seven runs, nine hits and three homers over three innings of work.

Bergman, 26, returns after making five rehab starts. He posted a 4.69 ERA during the stint, but eight of the 12 earned runs he allowed came in one game.

"My last two starts were pretty good down at (Triple-A) Colorado Springs, and I swung the bat in my last game with no problems at all, and I had no problems catching the ball," said Bergman on Colorado's website. "My arm feels loose and efficient."

Miami will counter with left-hander Brad Hand, who has not won since July 25.

Hand gave up three runs over seven innings of a 3-2 loss to Arizona on Aug. 15, then threw an inning of relief versus Texas on Wednesday. He is 2-5 with a save and 4.52 ERA in 26 games this year, including 11 starts.

The 24-year-old has faced the Rockies only once before and it came in two innings of relief.

Corey Dickerson will try to stay hot for Colorado today after having a big game last night in a 5-4 extra-inning victory. He tied the contest with a solo homer in the ninth inning, then won it with a walk-off single for his club's fourth victory in six games.

Dickerson had four hits, including his third-deck blast to right field in the bottom of the ninth off Marlins closer Steve Cishek on a 3-1 sinker with one out.

"That was one of the longest ones I've seen here," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said of the homer. "He can hit it. It's been well-documented."

The Marlins, who won the opener of the three-game series, got seven innings from Tom Koehler, but struck out 16 times in the game.

"We had some chances. We left a bunch of guys on base throughout the whole game," said Marlins manager Mike Redmond.

Miami took three of four from the Rockies to start the season.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/rookie-bergman-returns-for-rox-against-marlins