Colorado Rockies morning after: A missed opportunity

The Colorado Rockies had their chances on Tuesday night to put the Arizona Diamondbacks away, not only for the night but perhaps for the season as well. However, as has been the case often throughout a remarkable season, Colorado couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity.

Arizona pinned a 6-3 decision on the Colorado Rockies using a tested method as of late. The Diamondbacks scored in the first inning and held off the Rox when a late-inning rally seemed to be brewing.

With the loss, Colorado’s National League West lead stayed at 1.5 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers (who, thankfully, simply can’t seem to beat the Cincinnati Reds) while Arizona pulled back to within 2.5 games.

Just think if the Diamondbacks had slipped to 4.5 games back with 17 games left on their slate. It’s a tantalizing thought that will remain just a thought … for now.

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For the Rockies, the good news is this: They got through the game against Zack Greinke, who is now 11-5 all-time against Colorado, including 4-1 at Coors Field. Of all of the games this series, Tuesday’s was the one where the Rockies seemed to have, on paper, the lowest odds of winning. With Jon Gray and Kyle Freeland set to finish the series, Colorado will have two of their strongest second-half pitchers on the mound.

Colorado, however, had their chances against Greinke on Tuesday, rallying from a quick 2-0 deficit on first-inning RBI doubles by Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story to tie the game at 2. Story’s double provided a measure of history in addition to tying the contest.

From there, however, Arizona took advantage of its opportunities, including a defensive miscue by Story and a frustrating frame by starter Antonio Senzatela, who seemed to be on the verge of getting out of the sixth inning before a two-out, two-strike double by Rockies killer Paul Goldschmidt started a two-run rally that gave the visitors the lead for good.

For a team that manager Bud Black always likes to say never gets too high or too low, Tuesday night’s loss is disappointing, especially knowing the opportunity the Rockies had to give themselves some space in the division. However, with five games left against the Diamondbacks and a nine-game road trip through the NL West lurking at the end of the week, there is no time to look back and wring hands over missed opportunities.