Colorado Rockies game no. 39 thread: Stephen Kolek vs. Bradley Blalock

Can the Rockies build on the momentum of last night’s comeback (loss)?

The Colorado Rockies lost to the San Diego Padres last night 13-9, but they clawed their way back from a 12-2 deficit. Seven of the nine runs came in the eighth and ninth innings.

Michael Toglia broke the scoreless streak against the Padres with a solo homer in the fourth inning, and then Ryan McMahon hit his own jack in the sixth. Not to be outdone, Jordan Beck hit a big fly in the eighth to get things started. Kyle Farmer hit a two-run double to center, Sean Bouchard scored Farmer, and Brenton Doyle scored Bouchard to make the score 13-7 at the end of the eighth. In the ninth, Hunter Goodman hit a double to score McMahon, and then Mickey Moniak knocked in Goodman (who advanced to third on an error on the previous play) to make the final score 13-9. It was still a loss, but there were some late signs of life. Perhaps they can capitalize on that tonight in Game 2.

Bradley Blalock (0-1, 8.03 ERA) will take the mound for the Rox. Blalock is making his fifth appearance and third start of the season, second-consecutive since being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace the injured Ryan Feltner. In his last outing against the San Francisco Giants, Blalock pitched 5 ¹⁄₃ innings and allowed three runs on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts. He did not factor into the 6-3 loss. Blalock has faced the Padres twice (one start) and owns a 0-0 record and 1.35 ERA over 6 ²⁄₃ total innings pitched.

Blalock will face Padres’ right-hander Stephen Kolek (1-0, 0.00 ERA). Kolek was drafted in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent a year in the Dodgers system before being traded to the Seattle Mariners and made it all the way up to their Triple-A affiliate in 2023. He was then drafted by the Padres in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft and eventually made his MLB debut on March 31, 2024. He made 42 appearances for the Padres in 2024, but made his first MLB start on May 4th against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In that start, Kolek threw 5 ¹⁄₃ shutout innings, allowing four hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Kolek has faced the Rockies three times — all in relief — and owns a 0-0 record with a 13.50 ERA.

Will the Rockies be victorious tonight, or will they continue their march towards dubious history?

First Pitch: 6:10 p.m. MDT

TV: Rockies.tv

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

Lineups: