Colorado Rockies: 4 things to note about the Extreme Rockies

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DENVER, COLORADO – JUNE 20: Pitcher Daniel Bard #52 of the Colorado Rockies throws against the Milwaukee Brewers in the ninth inning at Coors Field on June 20, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

In recognition of the Extreme Makeover reality television series franchise, this year’s edition of the Colorado Rockies could be aptly labeled Extreme Rockies.

With the 2021 season nearly halfway complete, this year has been filled with several highs and many lows for Colorado. The team’s seven-game homestand with the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers that concluded Sunday demonstrated the opposite ends of the spectrum that the Colorado Rockies have experienced through their first 73 games.

And the highs and lows were both in Sundays’ game for the Rockies.

Despite a six-run sixth inning that featured four home runs to wipe out a 6-0 deficit, Colorado’s bullpen allowed the tie-breaking run in the top of the ninth inning in a 7-6 loss to the Brewers Sunday afternoon before a crowd of 34,224 at Coors Field.

The game marked the second straight contest in which relievers for the Rox (30-43) could not shut the door on the Brewers and led to a frustrating loss. On Saturday night, Milwaukee (40-32) tallied a pair of ninth-inning runs to rally for a 6-5 victory and snap a season-high five-game winning streak and six-game home winning streak for Colorado. The Rox are now 25-16 at Coors Field in 2021.

The Rockies had been victorious in the first five games of the homestand, including a three-game sweep of National League West rival San Diego. But, after capturing the first two games of a four-game set with the Brewers, the final-inning back-to-back setbacks to Milwaukee were bitter pills to swallow, particularly as the team prepares to embark on a five-game road trip beginning Tuesday in Seattle.

DENVER, COLORADO – JUNE 19: Raimel Tapia #15 of the Colorado Rockies reacts on second base after hitting a double against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at Coors Field on June 19, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

On Sunday, Colorado’s bats were silent with just two hits in the first five innings. But in the sixth inning, the Rockies crossed the plate six times, getting eight of their 12 hits in the game, during the frame.

After a leadoff single by Raimel Tapia, who extended his hitting streak to a career-high 17 games—the longest such streak for a Rockie since Charlie Blackmon hit safely in 17 consecutive games in 2018—Yonathan Daza cracked a two-run home run off Brewers starter Eric Lauer. Trevor Story then followed with a solo blast, his sixth of the season, to end Lauer’s day. But the Rockies’ onslaught continued against Milwaukee reliever Zack Godley.

A Blackmon single preceded a two-run blast by CJ Cron, his ninth roundtripper of the year. After an out, Joshua Fuentes cracked his sixth homer of the year, a solo blast, to knot the game at 6-6 and send Godley to the showers.

The four-homer inning marked the second time this season that Colorado had accomplished the feat (also against the Dodgers April 2) and it was the third such time in franchise history. The six-run outburst marked the sixth time in 2021 that the Rox have scored six or more runs in an inning.

Despite the big comeback to even the score, closer Daniel Bard surrendered three hits and the tie-breaking run in the ninth inning to seal the Rockies’ fate. Bard (3-4) was charged with the loss after absorbing a blown save in his previous outing Friday night by allowing the tying run to score in an eventual 6-5 walk-off Rox win.

May 12, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Daniel Bard (52) in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Despite Bard’s difficulties in his last two appearances, Colorado Manager Bud Black spoke highly of the right-hander following Sunday’s loss.

“Daniel overall has been, I think, pretty solid for us,” Black told media, including Rox Pile, after the game. “There have been some ups and downs like any closer. It’s going to happen. He is willing to take on the responsibility of a game like that and handle it both mentally, emotionally, and physically.”

Added Black: “Overall, I think Daniel has been a positive for us on our pitching staff.”

Cron’s home run Sunday was part of his third, three-hit game of the season. He has now swatted four homers in his last seven contests.

Tapia and Story each had two hits. Story ended with hits in all seven games of the homestand.

Out of the bullpen, Carlos Estevez tossed two scoreless innings Sunday, allowing just one hit, to lower his earned run average to 3.38. The right-hander notched a pair of wins in the San Diego series earlier in the homestand.

Tapia’s 17-game hitting streak is now the longest active streak of its kind in the Majors this season.

CINCINNATI, OH – JUNE 11: Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on June 11, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

More from Rox Pile

Here are four other high/low marks for this year’s version of the Extreme Rockies:

1. Colorado still sports fewest wins, home runs on the road in the Majors

The team’s 5-27 road mark, in which the Rox have been outscored 178-83, is four wins fewer than Arizona’s total of nine victories in 40 road games.

The D-backs have the second-fewest road wins. They dropped their 17th consecutive game on Sunday in a loss to the Dodgers. Meanwhile, the Rockies’ 16 homers away from home rank last among Major League teams.

2. Rox top Majors in batting average, hits and runs scored at home (entering action Sunday)

Beginning play Sunday, Colorado boasted top marks for batting average (.282), hits (379), and runs scored (233) at home this season. With 12 hits and six runs tallied Sunday, the team could well remain No. 1 in each of those categories.

3. Colorado has amassed seven walk-off wins

The club’s 6-5 walk-off victory Friday against the Brewers was, at the time, its second such win in three games and a Major League-leading seventh walk-off win of the season.

4. The Rockies have the for most home wins in National League this season

Despite the ninth-inning home losses the last two days to Milwaukee, Colorado’s 25 wins at Coors Field matches that of Chicago and San Diego as the most in the National League for 2021.

dark. Next. Rockies pitchers on balancing baseball and fatherhood

After a day off from action Monday, Colorado returns to the diamond on Tuesday for the first of a two-game set at Seattle. Following the trip out west, the road journey continues with a three-game series at Milwaukee. Four of the five games, including all three with the Brewers, will be afternoon starts.

Kyle Freeland (0-2, 9.58) is scheduled to start for Colorado on Tuesday with the first pitch set for 8:10 p.m. (Mountain time).

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Colorado Rockies morning after: 4 things to note about the Extreme Rockies