Colorado Rockies: 6 Big Things That Happened in July

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.