Series Recap: Colorado Rockies Avoid Four-Game Sweep From The Milwaukee Brewers
By Andrew Dill
Jun 29, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) scores past Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) on a double by left fielder Corey Dickerson (not pictured) in the first inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Rockies endured yet another tough series in which the Milwaukee Brewers nearly came away with a four-game sweep. Instead, the Brew Crew would have to settle with winning three out of four as the Rockies bats exploded in series finale.
Game 1: 6/26 – Brewers 7, Rockies 4.
WP: Wily Peralta (9-5)
LP: Christian Friedrich (0-2)
S: Francisco Rodriguez (26)
Christian Friedrich was excellent in-game one regarding the number of strikeouts he accumulated (8). Other than that, he was roughed up in his second start this season, giving up five earned over just four innings on nine hits. The southpaw would give up two, first inning home runs to Rickie Weeks and a two-run shot to Aramis Ramirez.
The Rockies would take the lead in the top half of the fourth inning as third baseman Ryan Wheeler would unload the bases with a grand-slam to push their lead to one, 4-3. After that, it would be all down hill.
Friedrich would give up another two runs in the fifth inning as Jonathan Lucroy would collect an RBI single, followed by a Khris Davis sacrifice-fly. Tommy Kahnle came into the game in the eighth and would get roughed up. The righty would give up a two-run shot to Scooter Gennett to push the Brewers lead to 7-4.
Game 2: 6/27 – Brewers 3, Rockies 2.
WP: Francisco Rodriguez (3-2)
LP: Matt Belisle (2-3)
Friday night’s game would wind up being a pitchers duel between Rockies rookie Tyler Matzek and Brewers veteran Kyle Lohse. Matzek was strong, throwing six strong innings, giving up one run (RBI single from Jonathan Lucroy) on five hits while striking out three. Matzek would be pulled with just 83 pitches through six which was very questionable on Walt Weiss‘s decision.
Lohse was every bit as special. The veteran went seven strong, giving up one earned on seven hits, walking two and striking out four.
Nick Masset came in to relieve Matzek in the seventh and struggled mightily. He gave up a leadoff double to Khris Davis, followed by a walk to Mark Reynolds to put two on with no outs. Jean Segura would sacrifice bunt the runner over to runners RISP with one out. Colorado would elect to bring in lefty Rex Brothers who struck out Martin Maldonado to collect out number two.
Brothers would end up walking Rickie Weeks to load the bases with two outs for Ryan Braun. Brothers would lose command and hit the outfielder to scratch a run across, giving the Brewers a 2-1 lead.
Colorado would answer back in the top half of the ninth as Josh Rutledge hit a solo-shot to left field off of Francisco Rodriguez to tie the game up at two apiece.
Ryan Braun would hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth off of Matt Belisle to earn the Brew Crew a 3-2 victory.
Game 3: 6/28 – Brewers 7, Rockies 4.
WP: Matt Garza (5-5)
LP: Jhoulys Chacin (1-7)
S: Francisco Rodriguez (27)
Jhoulys Chacin continues to disappoint as the righty believes something is wrong with his shoulder that kept him out all of Spring Training and all of April. The righty would get rocked, giving up seven earned runs on 11 hits through just 5.2 innings.
Carlos Gomez would hit a no-doubt three-run home run in the bottom half of the first inning to give the Brewers a quick 3-0 lead. Ryan Braun (2-RBI triple) and Jonathan Lucroy (RBI ground out) would add some insurance runs in the bottom half of the fifth, making it 6-0 Brew Crew.
The Rockies would claw away in the top half of the sixth as Drew Stubbs slapped an RBI single to center to score DJ LeMahieu, and Troy Tulowitzki would collect a sacrifice-fly scoring Chacin to reduce the lead to four.
Brewers Lyle Overbay would get one of those runs back as the veteran roped a single to left to score Aramis Ramirez. It was a little too late for the Rockies as DJ LeMahieu hit a 2-RBI single to center, scoring Wilin Rosario and Ryan Wheeler.
Game 4: 6/29 – Rockies 10, Brewers 4.
WP: Jorge De La Rosa (8-6)
LP: Yovani Gallardo (5-5)
The Rockies would get a valiant effort out of their ace Jorge De La Rosa Sunday afternoon as the veteran southpaw gutted out six innings, giving up four earned on four hits, walking two and striking out four. He would get tested in the fourth inning as Ryan Braun homered and Khris Davis hit a sacrifice-fly.
Colorado’s bats were alive and well Sunday, scoring 10 runs on 15 hits. Corey Dickerson would collect a 2-RBI double in the first inning, scoring Justin Morneau and Troy Tulowitzki. Wilin Rosario would tack on a sacrifice-fly plating Dickerson, taking the early 3-0 lead.
Remember the Rockies giving three runs on a wild-pitch the last time these two teams met up? Well, the Brewers would do the same exact thing except it was on a slew of errors.
Charlie Culberson would notch a two-run home run in the top half of the eighth inning, scoring DJ LeMahieu to push the Rockies to a 10-4 lead.
The Colorado Rockies (36-46) begin a three-game set with the Washington Nationals on the road Monday night as Yohan Flande (0-0, 7.50 ERA) will be making his second Major League start. Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (5-4, 2.95 ERA) will counter him at Nationals Park.
First-pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET, 5:05 PM MT.