Colorado Rockies Burned by Big Innings Against Marlins

In game two of a six-game road trip, the Colorado Rockies dropped a slugfest 9-6 to the Miami Marlins in south Florida.

In the midst of a four-game set with the Marlins, the road club had to feel confident knowing the game’s best road pitcher was going to take the hill. Today’s starter Tyler Chatwood was 5-0 away from Coors Field with an unearthly 0.65 ERA coming into the contest. but, once first pitch occurred, bad luck reared its ugly face for Colorado

It was clear from the start that something was amiss with Chatwood. Struggling uncharacteristically with control, it took Chatwood 23 pitches to get through the first frame. Then, with the bases loaded and two outs in the second, Rockies trainer Keith Dugger came out to the mound and promptly escorted Chatwood off the field.

Seeing no apparent injury occur on any given pitch, fans were left searching for answers. It was later determined that Chatwood was suffering from mid-back spams, which is a major sigh of relief for Colorado given Chatwood’s history with Tommy John surgeries. Dodging any kind of arm injury is welcome news for the Rockies.

More from Colorado Rockies News

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: 3 things we appreciated from Tuesday in San Francisco
• What Bill Schmidt’s comments mean for the Colorado Rockies in 2023

Coming in in emergency relief, Eddie Butler tried to pitch out of a jam but ended up giving up a two-run single before recording the third out of the second.

Trailing 3-0, the Rockies offense would come to Chatwood and Butler’s rescue as they exploded for six runs in the top of the third, thanks in large part to a three-run double by backstop Nick Hundley.

The fish responded in the home of the third by hanging up a two spot on Butler. Eddie, who brought a five-inning scoreless streak into the game, never looked fully loosened up in this one and was scorched for six earned runs as a result.

The Rockies wouldn’t score a run other than that one big inning. It was nice to see the bats break out, but its clear they are struggling with consistency. There are a few silver linings from today’s game however.

Carlos Gonzalez recorded yet another multi-hit game, which now marks 27 on the season (ranking third in the NL), and is his fifth multi-hit game is his last eight games. CarGo is now hitting .402 since May 23rd, tops in the league since that time. Nolan Arenado also had a multiple hit game.

With the exception of Butler, the Rockies bullpen did their job. Chad Qualls and Justin Miller combined for three scoreless innings. Although they allowed a combined four hits, they were able to pitch around them.

Colorado will look to rebound when they send out rookie southpaw Tyler Anderson on Sunday. Anderson will look to replicate his fabulous Rockies debut. In Anderson’s first Major League start, he threw 6.1 innings, struck out six, and allowed only one run, but earned a no-decision against the Padres.

Next: Barnes Returns While Parra Heads to the DL

Anderson is only the seventh Colorado Rockies pitcher to earn a quality start, and is only the third Rockies pitcher to strike out six or more in a debut at Coors Field. Tyler Matzek was the last Colorado pitcher to accomplish both.

Ideally Tyler’s first Major League win will come Sunday in South Beach.