Bullpen Blows Up In Colorado Rockies 8-5 Loss To The Miami Marlins

Apr 3, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins third baseman Casey McGehee (9) slides home safety as Colorado Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario (20) is late on the tag during the third inning at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies dropped to 1-3 on the season as they were for sure on their way to getting win number two. Tommy Kahnle had a solid first inning of work in his major league debut, striking out pinch-hitter Reed Johnson and getting Christian Yelich to ground out to end the inning with the Rockies up 5-4. In the bottom of the 7th, he would walk Giancarlo Stanton then would give up a RBI triple to Casey McGehee to bring the fish to within one. On came Matt Belisle in the eight inning up by one to try to hold the lead. Belisle struggled last season and did so in Spring Training as well.

Adeiny Hechavarria began the eighth with a single to right field and would get moved over by a sacrifice bunt from catcher Jeff Mathis. Belisle would then strike out pinch-hitter Jarrod Saltalamacchia, giving the Rockies hope. However, Christian Yelich began the rally with a bloop single just out of the reach of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to tie the game up at five, scoring Hechavarria. Belisle would soon make the mistake of walking veteran Jeff Baker for Giancarlo Stanton. He would make him pay, ripping a bullet up the middle to score Yelich for the 6-5 lead.

It wasn’t over just yet as third baseman Casey McGehee would drive a two-RBI single up the middle to score Yelich and Stanton for the 8-5 lead. Despite a Michael Cuddyer single in the ninth, the Rockies couldn’t muster any offense, falling to the Marlins 8-5. This was a heartbreaking loss as Colorado was up 5-2 at one point, losing three out of four games to a team that lost 100 games the year before.

Notable Rockies Hitters:

• Troy Tulowitzki: 2-for-3, 3B, 2 R.
• Corey Dickerson: 1-for-3, 2 R.
• Nolan Arenado: 2-for-4, 2 RBI.
• Michael Cuddyer: 2-for-5, 3 RBI.

Franklin Morales however fared well in his first start of the 2014 season. The southpaw would struggle with command at times but finished the game giving the Rockies a chance to win. He would throw 5 1/3 innings, giving up eight hits, three runs, three earned, two walks, and four strikeouts.

The Colorado Rockies (1-3) return home tomorrow afternoon to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in their home opener. Probable pitching match-up is Arizona’s Randall Delgado going up against Colorado’s Juan Nicasio. First-pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM ET, 2:10 PM MT.