Highlights
Preview
DENVER (Interstat) — The Tampa Bay Rays will try to build on a slugging series-opening victory when they face the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Coors Field. First pitch is set for Tuesday, Aug. 4, with the forecast calling for clouds and a game-time temperature near 85 degrees. The Rays (66-47) and Rockies (46-68) play the second game of a two-game series. Tampa Bay won Monday’s opener 13-9, a game that featured plenty of offense at Coors Field. Junior Caminero led the Rays on Monday, going 2 for 5 with two home runs and three RBIs. Ian Seymour allowed two earned runs over six innings while striking out nine, and Jonathan Aranda added four hits and two RBIs. Caminero has three home runs over his past five games and remains a key bat in Tampa Bay’s lineup. Mickey Moniak was the top hitter for Colorado in Monday’s loss, going 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. Ezequiel Tovar had four hits and homered, and Jake McCarthy drove in two runs. Moniak also homered on July 28 at San Diego and on July 21 against Washington, giving him three home runs over his past 11 games. The Rays have been the steadier team this season, but Coors Field can change the feel of any game. The high altitude and warm temperature could keep the ball carrying, and the high total reflects that expectation. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-4 Tampa Bay win. Interstat’s ELO system gives the Rays a 64.70 percent probability of victory. Tampa Bay is a minus-1.5 favorite on the run line, and the over-under is 11. Both teams are scheduled to play again Wednesday afternoon in the series finale. After that, Tampa Bay heads to Seattle for a three-game series against the Mariners, while Colorado travels to St. Louis to open a three-game set against the Cardinals. The Rays have won seven of their last 10 games. The Rockies have been less consistent but showed offensive life in Monday’s slugfest and had won three straight before the opener. With two of the more dangerous hitters in each lineup coming off big nights, Tuesday’s game could once again come down to which bullpen can make a stop in the late innings. Tampa Bay’s lineup has the edge on paper, but Colorado’s bats at Coors Field make the Rockies a threat to even the series.

