Despite some late-inning hitting by Ryan Zimmerman, the Colorado Rockies snapped their losing streak on Thursday night when they defeated the Washington Nationals, 6-3. Esmil Rogers held the Nationals to one run in 5-2/3 innings to pick up his fifth win.
On Friday evening, Juan Nicasio (4-3, 3.95 ERA) will look to string together consecutive quality outings. In his last start, the bullpen blew a lead and cost the Rockies the game in an 8-3 loss to the Padres. Nicasio struck out a career high 10 batters in that game (nine was the previous high). He kept the Padres to two runs on five hits in seven innings before Rex Brothers and Matt Belisle gave up six runs in the bottom of the eighth. To start the second half of the season, Nicasio threw two starts of seven innings each and allowed just one total run. However, the Dodgers struck for five against him in the next start.
Jordan Zimmermann (6-9, 3.88 ERA) draws the start for the Nationals. He is coming off a start against the Mets, throwing six shutout innings, scattering seven hits and striking out six. In his two starts before that, he was tagged for six runs each time and both losses. However, Zimmermann did throw 6-1/3 scoreless innings against the Rockies in Washington back on July 10. He struck out six in the 2-0 victory.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. MT.
For more on the Nationals, visit Federal Baseball and SB Nation DC. As always, check out Purple Row.