Colorado Rockies: Clawing back into NL West Race
Back Home for six before the All-Star festivities.
The Rockies return home to face division rival Arizona for a three-game set.
Tuesday’s game set up as the quintessential Rockies game. Starter Tyler Anderson gave a solid six-inning performance, allowing only one run (another first-inning HR) and three hits, including eight strikeouts before handing off a 2-1 lead to Jake McGee. McGee responded with a walk, a double and two home runs in the disastrous seventh, surrendering four runs to the D’backs. Arenado tacked on a solo shot in the bottom of the inning but the seventh would prove Colorado’s undoing. The final held at 5-3 and Arizona had an important victory against the team that’s right on their heels in division standings.
The Rockies bounced back on Wednesday in one of the more prolific offensive performances in recent memory. German Marquez spread five hits and eight strikeouts over six innings to continue the strongest streak of starting pitching performances of the season. Arizona starter Shelby Miller didn’t make it out of the first inning, giving up five runs on four hits including a three-run shot from Ian Desmond. The offensive stats are absurd so we’ll just touch on some notables. Marquez, in addition to a stellar performance on the mound got his first Home Run of the season in the fifth. Ian Desmond went 3-for-5 and has his season average up to .223. He also netted five RBI. CarGo had six RBI. Blackmon and Arenado each with two. Trevor Story stole his 12th base. All that adds up to 19 runs for Colorado and a 19-2 victory to tie the series.
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Thursday saw Kyle Freeland on the mound once more and he spread six hits and four strikeouts over his 5.1 innings of work. He gave up one run as Arizona managed to work a Jon Jay HBP into a score. The Rockies bats came alive again late, touching up Diamondback starter Robbie Ray for three in the sixth and chasing him. The Rockies would roll through three D’Backs relievers in the seventh, adding four hits and two more runs. Trevor Story smashed his 18th home run of the season in the seventh. Ian Desmond (10) and DJ LeMahieu (5) had stolen bases. The Rockies moved to 7-3 for the month of July after a disheartening 11-16 June and ground out the 5-1 victory. The win captured the series for Colorado, it’s third straight in July.
Colorado welcomes the Mariners for three leading into the Midsummer Classic. The Rockies placed three onto the NL All-Star squad, with Arenado starting and Blackmon and Story as reserves.
If Colorado can keep the streak of starting pitching and series wins alive, renewed hope for a division title and playoff appearance for the Rockies.