The lopsided grin belies Josh Fogg’s toughness. And that characteristic is one of the main reasons the right- hander will get the ball for Sunday’s Game 3, the first-ever NLCS game at Coors Field.
That, and the fact Fogg is 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA in four starts against the Diamondbacks this season.
“Josh has thrown extremely well over the last few weeks for us,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Plus, he knows that team.”
Fogg made a rare relief appearance in Game 2 of the NLDS in Philadelphia, entering the game in the fourth inning for struggling rookie starter Franklin Morales and shutting down the Phillies for two innings.
When Fogg is on, he works quickly, moves his fastball in and out and keeps the ball down. When he’s off, it’s apparent early on and he’ll give up a lot of homers. San Diego hit him hard in the wild-card tiebreaker game.
Hurdle’s decision to leave opening-day starter Aaron Cook off the 25-man playoff roster means Morales will start Game 4 in Denver. Blessed with dynamite stuff, Morales still struggles with control of both his fastball and his emotions. With his adrenaline rushing, he lasted just three innings in the Rockies’ Game 2 win over the Phillies in the NLDS.
