It's been seven years since the Colorado Rockies visited the Bronx to face the Yankees. It wasn't pleasant memories, as the Rockies dropped all three games in that early June series. But that was 2004, a far different time for the Colorado Rockies.
Now the Rockies are division contenders with legitimate stars in Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and Ubaldo Jimenez. The former takes the mound in Yankee Stadium on Friday night, his first career start against the Yankees. It's been an up-and-down season for Jimenez. The start to his season was rough, but over the last month and a half he's turned in some solid starts. The Dodgers tagged him for seven runs two starts ago, but last Saturday Jimenez picked up his second win in a Rockies 5-4 victory. He allowed three runs in five innings and struck out five.
The Yankees counter with A.J. Burnett who is 7-5 on the season. He split his last two starts. On June 13, Burnett lost, 1-0, to the Cleveland Indians, but went 7.2 innings and struck out eight. On June 18, he picked up the win after pitching 5.1 innings, allowing two runs and striking out eight. All four of Burnett's career starts against the Rockies came while he was a member of the Florida Marlins. He went 2-2 with a 2.40 ERA, but hasn't seen the Rockies since 2004.
Expected pitching matchups:
Friday
Ubaldo Jimenez vs. A.J. Burnett, 5:05 p.m. MT, ROOT
Saturday
Aaron Cook vs. CC Sabathia, 11:05 a.m. MT, ROOT
Sunday
Juan Nicasio at Ivan Nova, 12:05 p.m. MT, ROOT/TBS
For more on the Rockies, visit Purple Row. Hit Pinstripe Alley and SB Nation NY for more on the Yankees.