News
Lowe seeks to fight Coors Field demons
Atlanta (41-44) at Colorado (46-39), 9:10 p.m. ET
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
07/10/09 2:11 AM ET
DENVER -- When Derek Lowe introduced himself to the Braves during Spring Training, he was a jovial soul who seemed to have something comical to say to anybody within earshot. But as the past few weeks have progressed, he has certainly allowed his struggles on the mound to dampen his spirit. "I've had some rough stretches, but not too many that have lasted this long," said Lowe, who is 1-5 with a 6.15 ERA in his past eight starts. Of course, fate hasn't dealt Lowe any favors, as he'll be forced to battle his Coors Field demons on Friday night, when he attempts to turn things around during his final start before the All-Star break. "I know that my numbers here have been awful," Lowe said of his 2-4 record and 6.23 ERA in eight starts at Colorado. "Your breaking balls don't move as much as usual here, and the outfield is so big that doubles are turned into triples. But I think, more than anything, the psychological element can get you here." Coors Field wasn't exactly kind to the Braves' pitching staff on Thursday night, as they blew three leads on the way to losing the series opener. Now, they'll be looking for their staff ace to right both himself and their hopes to head into the All-Star break with some momentum. Unfortunately for the veteran sinkerballer, his most recent memories of this park have been forgettable. Lowe has gone 0-3 with a 10.66 ERA in his past three starts at Coors Field. During the five previous starts he'd made there, he was 2-1 with a much more respectable 4.40 ERA. Wherever Lowe is pitching, his success is primarily dictated by the effectiveness of his sinker. So while the thin Rocky Mountain air has definitely affected a number of breaking balls thrown in Denver, how has it affected the trajectory of the 36-year-old right-hander's sinker? "It works here," Lowe said. "As long as I have it going down, I'll be fine. But if I throw it like I have been recently, then it doesn't matter where I'm pitching." During the 21 starts that Lowe made from Aug. 11, 2008, through May 23 of this season, he was 12-3 with a 2.34 ERA. This stretch provided the Braves more reason to believe that they'd made a sound investment in January, when they provided him with a four-year, $60 million contract. But while watching him surrender 65 hits in the 44 innings he's completed during his past eight starts, they've been forced to patiently wait for him to regain the form that had been so promising at the beginning of this year. "It's always nice to go into the All-Star break with a win," Lowe said. "I think it's doubly important to get one when you have been struggling." Pitching matchupATL: RHP Derek Lowe (7-7, 4.56 ERA)
Lowe has not been sharp in the past couple of weeks, even saying, "It seems like a struggle every time out," after his last start -- a loss to the Nationals. In that game, Lowe threw 5 1/3 innings, leaving the bases loaded for his relievers, who let only one inherited runner score. Lowe was tacked with four earned runs on 10 hits. His sinker often didn't sink out of the zone, and Lowe had only one strikeout during the start. COL: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (6-8, 3.86 ERA)
Jimenez threw one bad pitch and it cost him in his last start, against the D-backs. He threw 5 2/3 no-hit innings until serving up a three-run home run to Mark Reynolds to tie the game. Expect the promising 25-year-old right-hander to pitch deep against the Braves, as he has thrown more than 100 pitches in all but one of his 17 starts this season. Jimenez has yet to face the Braves this season, but is 1-2 with a 5.66 ERA in four career starts against them.
Tidbits
Dr. Gary Lourie examined Jordan Schafer's left wrist via a CAT Scan on Wednesday, and once again concluded that the 22-year-old center fielder has a bone bruise. Schafer, who may be sidelined for the remainder of the season, will seek a second opinion next week. ... Tim Hudson gained further encouragement when he completed his first 10-minute live batting practice session on Thursday afternoon. Buddy Carlyle, who has been sidelined since May 25 while battling Type 1 Diabetes, also threw a live batting practice session for the first time since he went on the disabled list.
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• 640 WGST, Project 9-6-1 Up next
• Saturday: Braves (Jair Jurrjens, 6-7, 2.91) at Rockies (Jason Marquis, 11-5, 3.61), 8:10 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Braves (TBD) at Rockies (Jason Hammel, 5-4, 4.07), 3:10 p.m. ET
• Monday: Off-day
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
