Frias makes case for rotation in opener with D-backs

(SportsNetwork.com) – Carlos Frias gets a chance at securing a rotation spot
on Friday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers open up a three-game series with
the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Frias was recalled from the minors earlier this week after the Dodgers lost
starter Brandon McCarthy for the season due to an elbow injury and has since
made a pair of relief appearances. However, he’ll make the third start of his
career tonight and the 18th appearance of his major league career.

The 25-year-old righty made his first career start on Sept. 3 versus
Washington and hurled six scoreless innings in a no-decision. Following a pair
of relief appearances, he made another start on Sept. 17 in Colorado and was
hammered for eight runs and 10 hits while recording only two outs in the loss.

Frias has faced the Diamondbacks once before in relief on Sept. 7, striking
out two over two scoreless innings.

The Dodgers could make things easier on their starter tonight if they can hit
like they did in Wednesday’s 7-3 win over the San Francisco Giants. Joc
Pederson, Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier and Jimmy Rollins all homered in the
win, with Rollins leading off the third inning with a solo homer after the
other three Dodger hitters went deep in the first frame.

The Dodgers have hit 19 home runs in their 12 home games this season and have
won four of six overall.

Right-hander Zack Greinke settled down after a rough start to pitch six
innings. He gave up three runs on seven hits with two walks and six
strikeouts.

“I threw a lot of pitches early,” Greinke said. “I didn’t know if I could get
through five innings today. I had great defensive plays behind me.”

Arizona is taking aim at a third consecutive win tonight and beat the Colorado
Rockies 9-1 on Wednesday. The Diamondbacks’ back-to-back victories came
following a four-game slide.

Yasmany Tomas drove in three runs, while Paul Goldschmidt recorded his third
straight three-hit game and scored twice along with an RBI. Jordan Pacheco
contributed a three-run homer to the win.

“It was a big part in the game,” Pacheco said on his homer. “I got lucky I got
one and got it up in the air.”

Josh Collmenter earned the win after giving up just one unearned run and five
hits with no walks and six strikeouts over eight strong frames.

Arizona will start Rubby De La Rosa tonight and the righty rebounded from his
first loss of the season with an excellent showing versus Pittsburgh on
Saturday. He yielded just one run on four hits over seven innings of a no-
decision, striking out eight without giving up a walk in a game his club lost
2-1.

“He did a nice job tonight,” Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said of De La
Rosa. “That’s what we expected when we traded for him.”

The 26-year-old De La Rosa, acquired from Boston in December, is 2-1 with a
4.68 earned run average this season and has never faced the Dodgers.

The Diamondbacks won two of three at home versus the Dodgers from April 10-12,
but Los Angeles has still won eight of the previous 11 meetings.