Colorado Rockies: 6 Big Things That Happened in July

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Jul 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tyler Anderson (44) is doused with water by teammates following the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Phillies 8-3. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

The month of July was pretty amazing for the Colorado Rockies, especially when you consider the team went from being viewed as “sellers” and out of the hunt for the postseason before the All-Star break to right in the middle of the race for October as the month ended.

Looking back at July, the Rockies went 15-12 in the month, their most wins for single month since going 16-12 in April of 2014. The 15 wins in July were the most for the Rockies in the month of July since also winning 15 in July of 2009.

Sure the 15 wins were impressive, but even more impressive was the fact that the Rockies went 12-5 in the 17 games in July after the All-Star festivities in San Diego. The Rockies were 3-9 over their final 12 games heading into the break, showing exactly what a turnaround Colorado put together after the second half began.

Let’s look back at six big things that really told the tale of Colorado’s play in July.

Biggest kudos: Colorado pitchers

One of the biggest reasons for that turnaround was Colorado’s pitching. In July, Rockies starting pitchers went 12-8 with a 3.59 ERA. The Rockies recorded 20 quality starts in the month, their most quality starts in a single month in franchise history, topping the 19 established in June of 2009.

Part of Colorado’s success was avoiding giving up the long ball. Rockies pitchers allowed 0.68 home runs per nine innings (surrendering just 18 homers in 237 innings), which was the best mark in Major League Baseball for the month of July. It was the first time that Colorado pitchers led MLB in HR/9 since May of 2015 (0.65).

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Colorado also ranked tied for third in the National League with eight saves. Carlos Estevez recorded seven of those.

Boone Logan led the team with 15 appearances while Chad Bettis threw a team-high 38 innings in the month. Logan also earned his first win of the season on July 16, which was his first win since July 9, 2014, versus San Diego, a span of 107 games between victories.

Tyler Anderson and Bettis tied as the starter with the most wins in the month (three) while Jordan Lyles picked up a bullpen-high two wins and his first save since 2013.

Biggest milestone game of the month

That would go to Anderson, who earned his first career win and also recorded his first career hit and first career home run in a July 9 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. With that performance, he became the second pitcher in Rockies pitcher to record a hit and home run in the same game in which he earned his first career win, joining Jason Jennings in his Major League debut on August 23, 2001, at the New York Mets.

Next: July's Biggest Moment, Loss and Return

Jul 28, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; Colorado Rockies second baseman Cristhian Adames (18) reaches first base on a fielding error in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. The Colorado Rockies defeated the New York Mets 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

Biggest moment of the month

Colorado’s signature win of the month came on July 28 in a 2-1 victory over the Mets that opened a four-game series in Queens. The Rockies earned the victory despite taking a 1-0 deficit into the ninth inning. Colorado scored two runs in the ninth inning to take their first victory this season in which they were behind entering the ninth inning, snapping an 0-41 mark on the season in such games.

It was the second big number to be scissored by the Rockies in the month as Colorado was 0-43 when trailing after seven innings prior to its win in Atlanta on July 16.

Biggest debut of the month

David Dahl made his Major League debut in a start in left field on July 25 and recorded his first Major League hit off Yovani Gallardo in the seventh inning of that game. He would hit his first career home run off Baltimore starter Dylan Bundy on July 27.

In all, Dahl went 10-for-27 (.370) with one double, two home runs, three RBI and one walk over his first seven games to close out the month.

Biggest return of the month

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of 2015, Adam Ottavino finally returned to the mound for the Rockies on July 5. It was the beginning of a successful month for the former Colorado closer, who pitched 8.1 scoreless innings in July with four hits, two walks and seven strikeouts. Ottavino ended the month with a 23.0-inning scoreless streak dating back to September 7, 2014, the longest such active streak in MLB at the end of July.

Biggest loss of the month

The biggest loss wasn’t a game, but rather the untimely end of the season for rookie shortstop Trevor Story, who tore a ligament in his thumb in a loss to the New York Mets on July 31.

Story had a big July for the Rockies. He was named as the National League Player of the Week for the week of July 18-24 after batting .478 (11-for-23) with 10 runs, one double, six home runs, 12 RBI, four walks and two stolen bases.

Story concluded the first half of the season with 21 home runs, tying him with Dave Kingman (1972) and Albert Pujols (2001) for the most all-time for a National League rookie prior to the All-Star break. Additionally, his 57 first-half RBI were the seventh-most in National League history for a rookie and the most since Ryan Zimmerman drove in 59 for the Washington Nationals in 2006.

Next: We Need to Talk About Ryan McMahon

He ended July (and his regular season) with 27 home runs, the most in a season for a rookie shortstop in National League history, eclipsing Troy Tulowitzki’s 24 homers in 2007.

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The month of July was pretty amazing for the Colorado Rockies, especially when you consider the team went from being viewed as “sellers” and out of the hunt for the postseason before the All-Star break to right in the middle of the race for October as the month ended.

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