Colorado Rockies Drop Series Opener to Arizona

After a 2-4 road trip, the Colorado Rockies returned to Coors Field only to lose the series opener to Arizona late, 7-6.

Eddie Butler (2-4, 6.26 ERA) started on the hill for the home squad. Since June 3, Rockies starters have posted an impressive 3.52 ERA (102.1 IP, 40 ER) with 12 quality starts. Tonight was not one of those quality starts as Butler faced more traffic than I-25 at 5:10 in the evening.

It took 106 pitches for Butler to work five full innings while giving up six earned runs on 11 hits, including two long balls. It’s pretty hard to win games with that kind of pitching effort.

To be fair to Eddie, D-Backs ace Zach Greinke faced almost just as much traffic on the night … although Greinke was able to salvage a horrible start into a quality start. Greinke’s ability to grind out an off night into a winning effort is a lesson Butler needs desperately to try and emulate.

In his career, Butler has not faired well against the National League West. in 13 career starts vs. NL West opponents, Butler is 4-6 with a 5.10 ERA while walking 34 and striking out only 35. Coming into tonight’s game, Butler had a home ERA of 9.37.

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Despite a poor pitching effort and a loss, there are a few silver linings to take from the game. Charlie Blackmon continued to be a force of nature. This season against Arizona, Chuck Nazty is hitting .343, and collected two more hits against Colorado’s NL West rival. Since April 29, Charlie is hitting .312 and making a push for another All-Star nod.

Colorado’s offense showed a lot of resilience as they scored three runs in the eighth inning to tie the game at six, only be let down again by pitching. Carlos Estevez came in the top of the ninth and was electric, hitting 100 MPH multiple times, but was grinded down by a 12 pitch at-bat to Paul Goldschmidt and then gave up three consecutive two-out singles to lose the lead. Nick Ahmed, hitting .208 on the season, had the game-winning single, slapping the first pitch from Estevez into center to plate Jake Lamb with what would be the winning run.

Although they scored three times in the eighth, Colorado should have arguably gotten more runs in that frame as they had the bases loaded with one out but then Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor Story both struck out swinging.

Next: Rockies All-Time Greatest Second Basemen

In game two of the series, Colorado Rockies rookie Tyler Anderson (0-1, 2.25 ERA) will make his third career start and will look to achieve that elusive first Major League win. In his last start, Anderson threw 5.2 innings and allowed two earned runs while striking out four against Miami.