Colorado Rockies Drop Series Finale to Pittsburgh

After being recently recalled from Triple-A to help the Colorado Rockies overcome some injury concerns in the pitching department, Jordan Lyles had the chance on Monday to show that he had improved during his time in Albuquerque. However, his spot start against the Pittsburgh Pirates did anything but that.

Lyles allowed six runs and five hits in just 2.1 innings and also provided one of the scariest moments of the season so far by hitting Pittsburgh starter Ryan Vogelsong in the head. He finished as the losing pitcher as the Pirates recorded a 6-3 decision in a game that was rescheduled after a Sunday washout.

With an 0-2 count in the bottom of the second, Lyles released a fastball that sailed inside and high, striking Vogelsong in the head. He was taken off the field on a cart and to a local hospital for a checkup.

The Pirates had already scored two runs in the inning before Vogelsong was struck. Pittsburgh would add four more in the next frame, with two runs coming home on an errant throw home on an attempted force play by Mark Reynolds.

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

It would be enough to chase Lyles, who was anything but impressive in his brief 56-pitch outing.

Chris Rusin came on in relief and had a superb outing, blanking the Pirates over 4.2 innings and allowing just two hits during his stint.

Charlie Blackmon finally got the Colorado Rockies on the board against Pittsburgh reliever Wilfredo Boscan, who pitched well in emergency relief of Vogelsong, slapping a two-run double to right in the fifth.

Rusin and Miguel Castro would hold the Pittsburgh offense in check the rest of the game, giving the Rockies a chance to tie the game in the top of the ninth. Carlos Gonzalez started the late rally attempt against Pirate reliever Jared Hughes with a one-out single and Reynolds would follow with a single to move CarGo to second. Pittsburgh brought in closer Mark Melancon and Gerardo Parra greeted him with a single to load the bases.

DJ LeMahieu sent a sacrifice fly to right to plate Carlos Gonzalez to pull the Rockies within 6-3 but that would be as close as the Rockies would get. Ryan Raburn, pinch hitting for Tony Wolters, flied out to deep center field to end the game.

Next: What MLB The Show 16 Said About the Colorado Season

The Rockies, now 21-22 on the season, move on to Boston where they will meet the Red Sox in a three-game series beginning on Tuesday. Jorge De La Rosa is scheduled to open the series against Boston’s David Price.