The Rockies came back from the brink after a bullpen implosion to secure a victory by the lake.
It was an odd game in Cleveland that started two and a half hours late due to heavy rain. When the game finally started, everything was going the Rockies’ way, and they found themselves winning in the seventh inning,
Then the roller coaster started.
The Cleveland Guardians put together a five-run seventh inning, and things looked bleak for the water-logged Rockies.
Thankfully, the Colorado Rockies rebounded with five more runs in the final two frames to take away the win!
Blalocking it Down
Right-handed starter Bradley Blalock didn’t let the rain delay get to him.
Although he gave up six hits, the second year pitcher turned in his third straight start allowing two or fewer runs. He also turned in the single best start of his young career. Pitching six shutout innings for the Quality Start, Blalock set new career highs for innings pitched and strikeouts. Blalock fanned seven Guardians batters without issuing a walk, making excellent use of his fastball-splitter combo.
Blalock is the first Rockies rookie to pitch six or more scoreless innings with seven or more strikeouts since Jon Gray in September 2016.
The Bird is Not the Word (Today)
Jake Bird’s recent struggles continued as the trade candidate struggled to locate and get life on his pitches. Bird walked back-to-back batters to start the bottom of the seventh inning before relinquishing the Rockies’ lead on a pinch-hit home run off the bat of Bo Naylor. After giving up a single on a full count to his fourth batter faced, Bird was pulled without recording an out.
Coming into tonight’s game, Bird carried a 14.21 ERA this July. Since June 13th he has seen his ERA jump from 1.41 to 4.56.
Stretched-Out Seventh Inning
The Rockies’ disastrous seventh inning continued when righty Victor Vodnik took the mound with no outs and a runner on first. After a single on what could have been a double play, a wild pitch forced an intentional walk on José Ramírez. Vodnik struck out his next batter, but then walked in the go-ahead run for Cleveland on four pitches. Vodnik then gave up an RBI single to put the Rockies further behind before mercifully getting the next two outs.
Overall it took two arms 48 pitches to record three outs, more than half of what Bradley Blalock threw in six innings of work.
Thankfully, Tyler Kinley was able to navigate a scoreless eighth and Seth Halvorsen—despite struggling with command—shut down the Guardians in the ninth for his 11th save of the season.
“The Land” of the Free(man)
Tyler Freeman pulled out the heroics in his return to Cleveland after being traded during spring training, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs. He put the Rockies on the board in the third inning with a sacrifice fly, drove in another run on a single in the fifth, and brought home the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth with another single to bring the Rockies a step closer to victory.
More than a little Warm
Warming Bernabel, called up on Saturday, made his third start at first base. He ended the night with a three-game hit streak, his second career home run, and was a key piece of the Rockies’ win in Cleveland.
Bernabel went 2-for-5 on the night, with his first hit going over the outfield wall in the sixth inning. He almost went deep again to kick off a four run ninth inning, but he had to settle for a ground-rule double when the ball fell short and ended up stuck in the fencing. He came around to score on a Brenton Doyle bunt and a throwing error by the Cleveland closer Cade Smith.
Can’t keep a Goodman down
Despite the heroics of Tyler Freeman and Warming Bernabel, you can’t overlook the impact Hunter Goodman had in tonight’s victory.
Although he went hitless through the first seven innings, Goodman ended up 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Both of his hits were for extra-bases. He slugged a solo home run in the eighth inning to get the Rockies closer to the Guardians, who had pulled ahead the inning prior. In the top of the ninth inning, he doubled to drive in Tyler Freeman, which ended up being a valuable insurance run.
Coming Up Next
The Rockies will continue their series against the Guardians tomorrow night, which will hopefully start on time.
Rockies righty Tanner Gordon will face off against the left-handed Logan Allen. First pitch is scheduled for 4:40 PM MDT.