Zack Greinke looks to win his fifth straight start and claim his sixth consecutive victory when the Arizona Diamondbacks attempt to complete a three-game series sweep over the host Colorado Rockies on Sunday in Denver.
The 35-year-old right-hander has allowed just three runs in 27 2/3 innings during the four-game winning streak. An ERA that was at 7.16 after Greinke’s first three starts has dropped to 3.27.
The improvement from Greinke (5-1) has coincided with the team’s recovery from a lackluster 6-9 start.
Arizona (20-13) is now a hot squad with four straight wins, nine in its last 11 and 14 of its past 18.
The Diamondbacks scored 19 runs while winning the first two games of the series. Arizona slugged seven homers — four in Friday’s 10-9 victory and three in Saturday’s 9-2 triumph.
Arizona received a two-run homer from Nick Ahmed, a solo blast by Carson Kelly (the first of his career) and a three-run blast by David Peralta in the first three innings on Saturday to build an early 7-0 lead.
“When you can score early here, it might deflate the opposition,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters after the victory. “That’s just some of the basic rules of baseball.
“It was us being ready. Nick with the big home run, David with a very decisive blow with the three-run home run and we just kept tacking on from there. A really complete effort offensively.”
Rockies manager Bud Black agreed that the three homers were big, particularly Peralta’s blast.
“The hanging slider to Peralta, that was the backbreaker,” Black told reporters.
While Arizona is thriving, the Rockies (15-19) are going through a rough stretch with five losses in the past seven games.
Colorado had just five hits in Saturday’s loss and slugger Nolan Arenado was handcuffed with an 0-for-4 outing. Arenado had three hits in each of the previous three contests.
Arenado has never homered while going 16-for-61 against Greinke. Trevor Story (11-for-35 with five homers and 12 RBIs) and Mark Reynolds (four homers despite being 7-for-36) have had their moments.
Greinke is 12-6 with a 3.76 ERA in 30 career appearances (29 starts) against the Rockies.
He is coming off a strong effort in which he pitched a season-long 7 2/3 innings in a 3-1 win over the New York Yankees. Greinke struck out seven and gave up one run and five hits.
Right-hander German Marquez will start for the Rockies.
Marquez (3-2, 2.93) lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in his last turn when he gave up four runs and six hits over seven innings.
Marquez is 3-4 with a 4.15 ERA in 13 career appearances (12 starts) against Arizona. Peralta is 13-for-29 with two homers and four doubles against the 24-year-old.
Marquez has struggled at Coors Field this season, going 1-1 with a 5.29 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in three starts. For comparison, he is 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA and 0.62 WHIP in four road outings.
Arizona right fielder Adam Jones is questionable after leaving Saturday’s game after the top of the fourth inning due to feeling light-headed in the mile-high atmosphere of Denver.