Twice in the last four games an opposing pitcher has no-hit the Colorado Rockies for at least seven innings, and the Marlins' Anibal Sanchez had his chance all the way to the start of the ninth on Friday night. Were it not for a leadoff single by Dexter Fowler may well have been on his way to his second career no-hitter.
As it stands, Fowler did single, but the Rockies still lost, 4-1. The Rockies are 1-3 in their last four games, but will look to correct that with Jason Hammel on the mound. Hammel is 0-2 in three games (two starts) in Florida with a 6.75 ERA, for what it's worth. In his last start, Hammel took a loss to the Cubs because he left the game when the Rockies were down, 3-1, but in the seventh Felipe Paulino allowed five runs. The Rockies scored two more in the eighth, but Hammel still took the loss.
The Marlins counter with Javier Vazquez, who has bounced around the majors since 2004, the year he moved from Montreal to New York (AL). After pitching just 2.1 innings in his April 3 start against the Mets (7 R, 5 BB), Vazquez has made it through at least the fifth in his two starts, but he did walk four in his last start.
The Rockies' announced lineup is:
CF Dexter Fowler
2B Jonathan Herrera
LF Carlos Gonzalez
SS Troy Tulowitzki
1B Todd Helton
RF Seth Smith
3B Ty Wigginton
C Jose Morales
P Hammel
Morales starts in place of Chris Iannetta, who has hit a rough patch after a hot start. He is hitless in his last three starts (0-for-8). Ty Wigginton will now start to receive time at third base with Ian Stewart in the minors again.
First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. MT.