It was a weird game, but the Rockies weren’t able to come back today
The Colorado Rockies made things interesting today, but it wasn’t quite enough to complete the sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. That said, they’ve still won three of their five series out of the break.
Bradley Blalock struggled in the first two innings, and the Rockies just weren’t able to recover this time.
Another early deficit
For the third time in as many games, the Rockies fell behind in the first inning before even taking the field (though they fell behind in the first against the Cleveland Guardians in two games at Progressive Field earlier this week). Today, the Pirates jumped out to a 3-0 lead to start the game.
Spencer Horwitz got things going with a leadoff double and was knocked in two batters later by Nick Gonzales after Ezequiel Tovar bobbled a ground ball. Oneil Cruz lined out sharply to Tovar, but then Tovar underthrew the ball to Warming Bernabel in an attempt to pick off Gonzales. Luckily the ball didn’t go into the dugout, but Tommy Pham made them pay with a two-run shot to center that put the Pirates up 3-0. Liover Peguero flied out to end the inning.
Things didn’t get better in the second inning, as Blalock issued a two-out walk to Jared Triolo and then Horwitz mashed another homer to right to up the Pirates’ lead to 5-0. After the homer, Bryan Reynolds walked and Gonzales singled to put two men on, but Cruz hit a grounder to Tovar to end the inning.
Here come the Rockies!
Following Tyler Freeman’s single, Mickey Moniak popped out to third but then Freeman stole third (a bit precariously). Hunter Goodman popped out to catcher in foul territory behind the plate, but Jordan Beck singled to score Freeman and put the Rockies on the board. Right where they wanted ‘em! (Until Tovar grounded out to end that inning.)
Fernández did make up for his blunder in the fifth inning, knocking a base hit into left, but Orlando Arcia struck out to end the inning.
But also here come the Buccos!
Blalock was lifted in the sixth inning after walking Jack Suwinsky and giving up a single to Triolo. Fernández tried to get Suwinski out at third, but was just a smidge off line trying to avoid hitting Tovar. That allowed Triolo to snag second. Ryan Rolison entered in his place, and immediately allowed a three-run homer to Horwitz — his second of the night — to give the Pirates an 8-1 lead.
Mickey and Friends
But Moniak said “not so fast!” and smacked a two-run homer to right after Freeman walked to lead off the sixth.
Not to be outdone, Goodman launched one onto the left field concourse to cut the Pirates’ lead in half 8-4.
And Beck, feeling left out, also smashed one into left. Here come the Rockies, indeed! It marked the ninth time in history that the Rockies went back-to-back-to-back, and the first time since Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story and Ian Desmond did it in 2018.
They tried to rally again in the seventh when Arcia singled and Freeman walked, but the Moniak lined out to left, Goodman grounded into a double play, and Beck was called out on strikes and swiftly ejected for (rightfully) arguing with the umpire. He was replaced by Brenton Doyle, who slid into center and shifted Moniak to left.
Free passes will haunt
Angel Chivilli, who came in during the sixth inning, continued pitching in the seventh. He ended up hitting the first two batters he faced to put me on first and second. Triolo grounded out to Tovar, but the runners moved up to second and third. Horwitz grounded out to first and Bernabel tried to turn a 3-2 double play at the plate, but was just off line and Suwinski scored to put the Pirates up 9-5.
Weird rules in play
In the midst of the game, there were a few weird rules that came into effect:
- In the sixth inning, Bernabel struck out despite being hit by a pitch on the inside elbow because he swung at the pitch.
- In the eighth inning, Tovar called timeout twice, which triggered an automatic strike. Because it was a 2-2 count, he struck out.
- In the next at-bat, Bernabel reached on a fielding error by the pitcher Isaac Mattson, but was nearly picked off because he crossed into fair territory (“turned towards second”) after he overran the bag. Luckily he scrambled back just in time to not be picked off.
No more LoDo magic
There were some opportunities in the ninth inning to make things interesting, but unfortunately they didn’t quite go the Rockies way today. Freeman was hit by a pitch to start the inning, but Moniak lined out sharply to Suwinski in right in a “how did he catch that?” play. Goodman grounded softly to third, and Doyle also hit a screaming liner to left but it was caught by Pham to end the inning.
It was a weird game, but the Rockies ran out of LoDo magic today.
Up Next
The Toronto Blue Jays come to town next for a three-game set. Tanner Gordon will take the ball for the Rockies tomorrow against lefty Eric Lauer. First pitch is at 6:40pm MT. See you then!