After long streak snapped, Rockies seek second straight win vs. Pirates

The Colorado Rockies own a win-loss record they would rather forget, but at least the streak that put them in the record books is over.

Colorado trailed in 31 straight games to begin the season but ended the streak with a 3-2 win at the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. Colorado jumped to a 3-0 lead in the sixth inning and held on.

Now, the Rockies (8-24) will go for their first winning streak of the season when they visit Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon in the second contest of a three-game series.

Left-hander Austin Gomber (0-2, 4.50 ERA) will be on the mound for Colorado against Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (2-3, 3.18).

Gomber has faced Pittsburgh eight times (four starts) in his career and is 0-3 with an 8.10 ERA. He is looking for his first win of the season. He has pitched at least five innings in his past four starts but has not gotten enough run support, as the Rockies put up a total of six runs in those games.

When Colorado has produced offense, it hasn't been enough most nights, including two losses in extra innings at Miami earlier in the week. The second one, 5-4 in 10 innings on Thursday, prompted a post-game meeting where manager Bud Black addressed the team.

While he didn't reveal exactly what he said, he relayed that he reiterated his belief in his ballclub, and it was backed up with a good win by the Rockies on Friday night.

"They're frustrated because of the tough losses," Black said. "But, man, this group has a lot of heart. We're just not getting it done on the field. Morale is fine. Guys are playing their [butts] off. We're just not getting the clutch hit, or making a big pitch. ... Our guys, man, they're fighting. It's just not happening, and we're not doing a lot offensively."

While Colorado ended a five-game skid, it extended the Pirates' losing streak to five. Pittsburgh has dropped eight of its past nine to fall into last place in the National League Central.

They will turn to the 22-year-old Jones, who has never faced the Rockies in his short career. Jones was stellar in his major league debut on March 30, earning the win against the Miami Marlins with a 10-strikeout performance. He struck out at least seven batters in each of his first five starts before the string was broken at San Francisco on Sunday.

He has pitched at least five innings in all of his six starts, but he also has been victimized by weak run support. He has yet to give up more than three runs in a game and in two starts has allowed one run or less.

The Pirates have just six total runs in the four games he has lost or taken a no-decision.

Jones has a lively arm and throws in the high 90s, and he has drawn comparisons to Atlanta's Spencer Strider. So far, Jones hasn't seemed bothered by the level of competition in the majors.

"I don't think," Jones said. "I just go out there and throw the ball. As natural as possible. I'm not thinking about my mechanics, or how it comes off my hand."

He has given Pittsburgh a glimpse at what could be a strong rotation of young arms, especially with last year's No. 1 overall draft pick, Paul Skenes, dominating in Triple-A.