Football
18y

Colorado (4-2) at Arizona (3-3) 9:40 pm EDT

Colorado (4-2) at Arizona (3-3) 9:40 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Orlando Hernandez got the best of the
Colorado Rockies in his National League debut. The suddenly
sizzling Rockies could provide a stiffer challenge in the rematch.

"El Duque" will take the mound in the Arizona Diamondbacks' home
opener as they begin a three-game series against Colorado on
Tuesday.

Hernandez (1-0, 1.80 ERA) allowed two runs - one earned - and
six hits in five innings of a 4-2 victory over the Rockies on
Wednesday. The native of Cuba struck out eight and threw 65 of
96 pitches for strikes.

After posting a disappointing 5.12 ERA on the otherwise
dominating pitching staff of the Chicago White Sox last season,
Hernandez was shipped to Arizona over the winter in the deal
that sent Javier Vazquez to the Windy City. In his first start
with Arizona, however, he displayed the form that made him a
17-game winner with the New York Yankees in 1999.

Since that meeting, the Rockies have scored 37 runs in four
games - including 32 in a three-game sweep of San Diego in
pitcher-friendly Petco Park. A key cog in Colorado's uprising
has been Garrett Atkins, whose 10 hits and seven RBI in the last
four games earned him National League Player of the Week honors
on Monday.

Aaron Cook (0-1, 3.86) will hope for better luck in his second
matchup against Hernandez in as many weeks. He allowed three
runs and six hits in seven innings of his season debut but was
dealt the loss.

Arizona salvaged the finale of a three-game set with Milwaukee
on Sunday behind six brilliant innings from Claudio Vargas and
three RBI from Tony Clark. Vargas, who struck out six, allowed
just two hits and one walk.

^ Back to Top ^