Weary Reds, Rockies get short turnaround

The Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds will need to recharge in a hurry when they meet on Sunday afternoon in the finale of their three-game series in Denver.

They sat through a 3-hour, 10-minute rain delay on Saturday night before playing a long, high-scoring game that lasted until the early hours on Sunday.

The Reds rallied for a 17-9 win thanks to a career-high six hits from Phillip Ervin and four each from Nick Senzel, Yasiel Puig and Jose Peraza.

They'll try to win the rubber game of the three-game series behind starter Tyler Mahle.

Mahle (2-9, 4.47 ERA) is still looking for his first win since May 31. He's 0-4 in his past six starts with a 4.88 ERA. Mahle has held the opposition to three earned runs or fewer in six of his past seven outings, but getting mileage out of him has been the issue, as he's lasted more than five innings just twice in his past eight starts.

The Reds had their largest margin of defeat in his last outing, although Mahle wasn't responsible for most of the damage. He gave up three runs and six hits in four innings of the 11-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians on July 7, his shortest start of the season.

Mahle has struck out a combined 15 batters over 10 innings in his past two starts, but he's also allowed nine hits and five walks, keeping the bases crowded at times and increasing his pitch count.

"Usually when you battle out of a lot of jams, eventually they're going to get you," Mahle said after the loss to the Indians.

Mahle has made two starts in his career against Colorado, both last season, and he also went five innings in those games without receiving a decision.

Charlie Blackmon is 4-for-5 off Mahle with a triple in those games.

Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela (7-6, 5.32 ERA) will try to bounce back from a poor outing just before the All-Star break.

He gave up seven runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of an 8-0 loss at the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 5. Senzatela had gone 4-1 in June with a 3.44 ERA.

Senzatela has struggled with consistency from inning to inning, much the way Mahle has. His start against the Diamondbacks was a perfect example.

"The first three innings I was throwing the ball well, down in the zone and getting groundballs, but then I left the ball up and they hit it pretty good," Senzatela said.

Senzatela has made one start in his career against the Reds. That was on May 20, 2017 of his rookie season. He allowed four runs and five hits in five innings and the Rockies lost 12-8 in Cincinnati.

Sonny Gray had success against the Rockies on Friday night, allowing one run in seven innings before reliever David Hernandez gave up solo home runs to David Dahl and Daniel Murphy in the eighth inning of the 3-2 loss.

--Field Level Media