Early and late mistakes sunk the Rockies
The Colorado Rockies were unable to clinch their third-straight series win today, but at least it was a closer loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Austin Gomber struggled, but the middle bullpen was lights out. Unfortunately, though, the offense couldn’t come through and a blunder by Jaden Hill in the eighth inning was the nail in the coffin. But Warming Bernabel got his first homer!
Two former teammates sunk Gomber
Gomber struggled a bit again today, only recording one 1-2-3 inning. He ran into some early traffic in the first but got out of it, but things got out of hand a bit in the second and third innings.
In the second, he got Ramón Urías to ground out to second, but then he walked Cedric Mullins. Coby Mayo doubled, and then Dylan Carlson singled to score both of them and put the Orioles up 2-1.
In the third, Ramón Laureano flied out to short, but then Gunnar Henderson singled and stole second. Tyler O’Neill then smacked a two-run homer — his third of the series and sixth of the year — to double the score 4-1.
Gomber induced a 1-2-3 fourth, but then struggled mightily in the fifth before being lifted for Jimmy Herget. He got Jordan Westburg to fly out, but then hit Laureano and walked Henderson. His final line: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.
Bernabel warming up
After recording his first MLB hit in garbage time of last night’s blowout loss, Warming Bernabel wasted no time in today’s contest. In his first at-bat of the game, Bernabel hit his first MLB home run in the second inning — a 385-foot shot to left — to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead.
Bernabel also made two excellent defensive stops in the sixth and eighth, and walked in the seventh.
Tovar robbed x2
Ezequiel Tovar ended up going (1-for-4) but could’ve easily gone (3-for-4). He was robbed twice by two excellent defensive plays by the Orioles’ infield. In the third, it was a diving stop by the shortstop Henderson:
In the sixth, it was a ball that was hit back towards the mound. It went underneath Tomoyuki Sugano, but was smothered by Westburg:
Multiple runners left out to dry… again
One thing that has plagued the Rockies this year is the lack of clutch hitting, and the inability to bring home baserunners. That was on display again today in multiple innings.
In the first, they had Tovar and Jordan Beck on first and second… and Thairo Estrada grounded softly back to Sugano to end the inning.
In the fifth, Orlando Arcia and Tyler Freeman hit back-to-back two-out singles to put men on first and third… and Mickey Moniak struck out swinging to end the inning.
In the seventh, Bernabel and Austin Nola walked back-to-back… and Arcia struck out and Freemand grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.
In the eighth, Moniak singled and was moved up to second on a flyout by Tovar… but then Beck and Estrada struck out swinging to end the inning.
In the ninth, Yanquiel Fernández singled on a line drive and moved up two batters later on a Nola groundout… but then Arcia struck out swinging on three pitches to end the game.
They left eight on base and were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Bullpen was (nearly) nails
One bright spot today was the Rockies’ bullpen. After Gomber was roughed up, Herget and Juan Mejia combined for 2 2⁄3 hitless/scoreless innings and with three strikeouts. Jaden Hill gave up a single to Laureano, but that was the Orioles’ first hit since the O’Neill homer in the third inning.
Unfortunately, though, that wasn’t the only issue for Hill. Henderson reached on a fielder’s choice after the Bernabel stop, and then he advanced to second after Tovar airmailed the ball trying to avoid Laureano, who was caught between first and second. Then, Henderson came around to score on a wild pitch after Hill didn’t cover the plate. He then walked O’Neill, but did get Urías and Mullins to both fly out to end the inning and limit the damage.
Up Next
The Rockies head to Cleveland tomorrow to take on the Guardians. Bradley Blalock will take the ball for the Rox against Slade Cecconi. First pitch is at 4:40 pm MT. See you then!