Colorado Rockies morning after: 3 things to like from sweep of the Padres

When the temperature at Coors Field is blazin’ and a sweep of the Padres would be amazin’, who you gonna call …?

… Chuck Nazty!

Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon was the key to the win

With the score tied in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday afternoon, Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black looked to his bench and called on Charlie Blackmon—as a pinch-hitter—to deliver a decisive hit against a key National League West rival.

In true Chuck Nazty style, Blackmon answered with a single to center field to drive in Trevor Story from second base with the winning run in Colorado’s 8-7 walk-off victory against San Diego and a sweep of the three-game series with the Padres.

The win in front of a crowd of 18,798 was the Colorado Rockies’ sixth walk-off victory of the season, matching Oakland’s total as the most in the Majors.

The game Wednesday was played with a first-pitch temperature of 97 degrees and marked the third straight day of scorching temperatures at Coors Field. For the first two games of the series on Monday and Tuesday, the game-time temperature each evening was 98 degrees.

With the heat on, the Rox (28-41) returned home from a dismal 1-5 road trip to score their fourth series sweep of 2021 and the first against the Padres (38-32) since September of 2019.

For Blackmon, the walk-off hit was the sixth in his illustrious career as he continues to move up the Rockies’ career charts in several offensive categories. The game-winning hit in Chuck Nazty’s only plate appearance Wednesday extended his on-base streak to 18 games.

Of course, Blackmon wasn’t the only offensive standout for Colorado, which amassed 13 hits after getting 12 hits off Yu Darvish and San Diego pitching in an 8-4 victory Tuesday night.

As expected, there were plenty of things to like from the sweep of the Padres.

Here are three:

1. Kinley continues stretch of solid relief outings

The right-hander has now held opponents scoreless in 11 of his last 13 appearances. He has a 1.98 earned run average (13.2 IP, 3 ER) in those 13 appearances with three walks and 11 strikeouts. His 27 outings and 28.1 innings out of the bullpen are both top marks on the team.

“I think with Tyler we have seen recent outings (with) a little bit more consistent strike-throwing, a little bit more consistent ahead in the count,” Black said. “You hear me talk every day about some pitching principles. I think that applied today. The ball-strike ratio was great. He was on the attack with early-count strikes. He was solid. He was good today. He is very capable of that. “When you talk about a nine-man bullpen and you talk about guys contributing and stringing appearances together, Tyler Kinley is pulling his weight,” the manager added.

2. Tapia developing into a dangerous hitter

The Rockies leadoff hitter has been on a tear recently at the plate. With his three hits Wednesday, including two doubles, the left fielder extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games, which is also the longest active streak in the Majors this season.

During the streak, he has amassed five, 3-hit games and has batted .450 (27 for 60). He is in the Top 10 in the National League in both hits (76) and batting average (.299).

3. Gomber on a roll on the hill

In Colorado’s 3-2 victory Monday, Austin Gomber tossed eight shutout innings to earn his fourth win in his last five decisions and improve his pitching record to 6-5. In his last seven starts, he has a 1.28 ERA (42 IP, 6 ER). After issuing seven walks in his first outing as a Rockie on April 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the left-hander has whiffed 41 and issued only three walks in his last seven appearances for a 13.67 strikeout/walk ratio. That ratio was a Major League-best entering action Wednesday.

With the sweep of the Padres, Colorado continues its seven-game homestand with the opener of a four-game set Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. (Mountain time) with German Marquez (4-6, 4.60) scheduled to take the mound for the Rox.