Colorado Rockies morning after: A costly bullpen decision that raises even more questions

Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black turned to Carlos Estevez in the 7th inning of a tie game and it cost the Rockies dearly.

The Colorado Rockies offense did not have a banner night on Thursday as they only scored three runs in the team’s 9-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first of their four-game series, continuing their offensive woes that have been all too apparent in 2020 and, frankly, for the past few seasons.

After scoring two runs in the first inning, the offense did not have a hit again until the 7th inning, when Kevin Pillar singled. In the 8th inning, Trevor Story homered but by the time both hits occurred, the game was long out of reach.

The game was still tied at 2 entering the 7th inning. Kyle Freeland was at 85 pitches and he retired the first batter of the inning on just one pitch.

But up came Kiké Hernandez. On a 2-1 changeup down-and-away, Hernandez doubled to center field, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position.

Left-handed hitter Edwin Rios comes up and he walks on six pitches (none of the six were particularly close to the zone but Rios swung and missed at two balls). Two on and one out, 96 pitches for Freeland, and Bud Black goes to the bullpen and he goes to Carlos Estevez, who has an ERA of 6.75 on the season and a staggering ERA of 20.25 in his last seven games (5 1/3 innings, 13 hits, 12 runs, an opponent slash line of .448/.484/.931, allowing at least one run in five of the seven outings).

Estevez hasn’t pitched in three days so Bud Black decides to bring him in to face former MVP Mookie Betts.