Cease (12-9) picked up the win over the Rockies on Saturday, allowing three runs on three hits and five walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.
Cease started off strong, striking out five of the first nine batters he faced while keeping the Rockies off the scoreboard through the first five innings. The right-hander then began to stumble in the sixth, allowing three consecutive batters to reach before eventually surrendering three runs in the frame. He was relieved by Adrian Morejon with two outs, marking the third consecutive start in which Cease has been unable to get through six innings (excluding his rain-delayed start Aug. 6). The five walks on the night also matched his season high, and he's now issued multiple free passes in four consecutive outings in which he's pitched outside of the first inning. Despite that, Cease has won five of his last six decisions (spanning seven starts).