RED SOX-ROCKIES PREVIEW
Associated Press
Jun. 15, 2004 6:34 a.m.
GAME: Boston Red Sox (37-25) at Colorado Rockies (21-41).
TIME: Tuesday, 9:05 p.m. EDT.
Bronson Arroyo has lost his last three starts. Coors Field probably isn't the best place for him to try to break his slump.
Arroyo and the Boston Red Sox make their first-ever trip to the Colorado Rockies' hitter-friendly park in the opener of a three-game interleague series.
Arroyo allowed just two runs, one earned, and six hits in five innings of last Wednesday's 8-1 loss to the San Diego Padres. He rebounded nicely from his previous two starts, in which he combined to allow 15 runs - 11 earned - in nine innings. However, Arroyo still walked away with his losing streak intact.
The right-hander has allowed 22 runs in 20 innings in his last four outings.
Coors Field might not be the best place to reverse that trend. The stadium allows two more runs per game than any other park, and batters are hitting .311 there - the only major league ball park over .300.
Boston's Pokey Reese spent the first seven seasons of his career in the National League and has plenty of experience at Coors Field. The light-hitting infielder has gone .344 (21-for-61) with two homers and six RBIs at the park.
However, Reese said he won't do anything differently at the plate in Colorado.
"Why would you change your approach? I mean, if the ball's going to go out, it's going to go out," he said. "I'm just thinking about what I'm thinking about when I'm not there - just squaring to the ball and hitting it hard somewhere."
The Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 Sunday for their sixth win in eight games. Reese doubled in two runs and Gabe Kapler doubled in the eventual game-winner for Boston.
The Rockies lost 3-2 to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Sunday, extending their season-high losing streak to eight games.
"We've just got to play one good game," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Play one complete, good game and then try to turn it into another complete, good game and see where it takes us. Build some momentum."
Aaron Miles doubled twice and had an RBI, and Denny Hocking drove in the other run for Colorado, which finished its road trip 0-6. Miles finished 2-for-5 for his ninth multihit game in 12 contests for the Rockies, who have lost 20 of their 24 games.
STANDINGS: Red Sox - 2nd place, 3 GB, AL East. Rockies - 5th place, 12 GB, NL West.
RED SOX PROBABLE STARTER: Arroyo (2-4, 5.01 ERA). Arroyo is 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA in three career appearances, including one start, against the Rockies.
ROCKIES PROBABLE STARTER: Joe Kennedy (4-4, 4.06 ERA). Kennedy allowed season-highs of seven runs and nine hits in six innings of Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the New York Yankees - his fourth consecutive defeat since a four-decision winning streak. The lefty is 0-2 with a 5.30 ERA in eight career appearances, including six starts, against the Red Sox.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Red Sox - Manny Ramirez, .342 avg. and 17 HRs; David Ortiz, 54 RBIs; Mark Bellhorn, 44 runs; Johnny Damon, 6 SBs. Rockies - Todd Helton, .345 avg.; Jeromy Burnitz, 16 HRs; Vinny Castilla, 48 RBIs; Royce Clayton, 45 runs; Miles and Clayton, 4 SBs.
INTERLEAGUE RECORDS: Red Sox, 4-2; Rockies, 0-6.
STREAKS AND NOTES: Red Sox - 1B-OF Kevin Millar, who spent parts of five seasons with the Florida Marlins, is 11-for-29 (.379) with two homers and seven RBIs at Coors Field. ... RHP Keith Foulke earned his 13th save in 15 chances Sunday. ... RHP Curt Schilling is scheduled to undergo a third MRI on his sore right ankle Thursday, one day after his expected start at Colorado. Rockies - 1B Helton has 10 hits and eight RBIs in 17 at-bats over the past four games. ... RF Burnitz singled in the second Sunday, snapping an 0-for-11 slide. ... The Rockies are 4-10 in one-run games and 7-18 in two-run games.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Red Sox - 15-14 on the road; Rockies - 13-16 at home.
INJURIES: Red Sox - 3B Bill Mueller (knee), 15-day DL; OF Ellis Burks (knee), 15-day DL; OF Trot Nixon (back), 15-day DL; RHP Ramiro Mendoza (shoulder), 15-day DL; RHP Jason Shiell (elbow), 15-day DL; LHP Brad Thomas (elbow), 15-day DL; RHP Reynaldo Garcia (elbow), 60-day DL. Rockies - OF Preston Wilson (knee), 15-day DL; LHP Brian Fuentes (back), 15-day DL; RHP Turk Wendell (shoudler), 15-day DL; RHP Jason Young (ribs), 15-day DL; RHP Adam Bernero (shoulder), 60-day DL; LHP Denny Neagle (elbow), 60-day DL; OF Larry Walker (groin), 60-day DL.
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