So How’d Christian Bergman Do For The Colorado Rockies?

Jun 14, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Christian Bergman (36) pitches the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies won Christian Bergman’s spot start in San Francisco Tuesday night, and while Bergman tossed four scoreless innings, he only threw, well, four innings. How’d he do?

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Remember my post yesterday that gave some keys to Christian Bergman’s spot start for the Colorado Rockies and what he had to do to make it a successful one?

Well, congratulations to Bergman; the team won the game and he kept them in it, and more than anything, that’s what really matters. Nevertheless, let’s go a little deeper.

Throw strikes

I opined yesterday that Bergman had to throw strikes, if only because Rockies starters were walking (and hitting) so many batters early in the year.

Bergman tossed 85 pitches, 55 of which went for strikes (64.7%), and he walked two batters in four innings. All in all, not too bad! Eight of his 55 strikes were swung at and missed, and another 16 were called strikes.

He ended up with four strikeouts in his four innings of work, and allowed four hits – all singles – so while his pitch count was elevated, he certainly didn’t get hit hard.

Get outs

I mentioned how the club needed Bergman to go deep into the game to preserve the bullpen and… he didn’t.

The bullpen had to throw five innings. For a spot start, considering Bergman’s role and what was happening, having him go four shutout innings was fine, but obviously that is not sustainable. It’s on Tyler Matzek tonight to go deep into the game and get at least 18 outs to help preserve a bullpen that, while brilliant, has been taxed early in the year.

Embrace the Giants’ lefties

The Giants started seven left-handed batters against Bergman Tuesday: Nori Aoki, Joe Panik, Angel Pagan, Brandon Belt, Grego Blanco, Hector Sanchez, and Brandon Crawford.

That actually worked out in Bergman’s favor, because in a very limited sample size, he’s done better against lefties than righties in his career.

On Tuesday night, lefties went 3-for-13 against Bergman with three singles, a walk, and three strikeouts.

(In case you’re curious, the only non-pitcher right-hander in the lineup, Matt Duffy, had a single and a walk in two plate appearances against Bergman.)

All told, Bergman was phenomenal last night.

He shouldn’t move into the starting rotation or anything, and considering Jorge De La Rosa’s imminent return. John Axford’s arrival, and the probably-soon ascension of Jon Gray, he may not have a spot on the big league roster for much longer.

Nevertheless, he did about as well as the club could have hoped for last night and gave the Rockies their second consecutive road series win to start 2015 in a hostile road environment against the defending World Series champions.