Colorado Rockies morning after: Dangerous trend looms for Rockies

Based on the last two games, a dangerous trend is beginning to loom for the Colorado Rockies.

What’s more, the potential trend is happening at a place where Colorado has seen its greatest success this season.

Following a 10-5 loss Monday afternoon to National League West Division leader San Francisco, Rockies pitching has now allowed 19 runs in the last two days (the Rox suffered a 9-2 setback to NL East Division leader Atlanta on Sunday afternoon).

Both of the Colorado Rockies’ losses came at Coors Field.

Both losses came at Coors Field, a venue in which the Colorado Rockies have compiled one of the best home marks this season in the Majors—45-25 for a glossy .643 winning percentage.

The 10 runs surrendered on Monday matched the most that an opponent has tallied against Colorado at Coors Field in 2021 (on July 17 the Dodgers topped the Rockies 10-4).

With Colorado (63-75) down two members—Austin Gomber and Jon Gray—on its starting rotation due to injuries, the team will need to lean heavily on its remaining starting pitchers and some new faces during the final month of the season.

That scenario has not worked for the Rockies in the last two days.

On Sunday in his Major League debut, Ryan Feltner—just called up from Double-A—started on the mound and was raked for six earned runs while allowing three home runs in 2.2 innings in the loss to the Braves, who finished with four homers on the day.

Then, on Monday, veteran starter Kyle Freeland was shelled for seven earned runs on nine hits, including four home runs, in 4.1 innings in the blowout loss to San Francisco (88-50).

In a dubious distinction, both Feltner and Freeland permitted leadoff homers to begin their respective outings—the first time in franchise history Rockies pitchers have allowed leadoff homers in back-to-back games.

The four home runs belted by San Francisco on Monday helped the Giants to a 10-1 lead after 5 1/2 innings and, despite a late flurry by Colorado, a comfortable five-run victory.

It seems a surprising reversal has happened with Colorado’s pitching recently.

After the starting pitching has been solid for much of the season, only to be let down on many occasions by a leaky bullpen, it is now the Rox bullpen that has performed well in the last few weeks while Colorado’s starting pitching has been suspect.

Before allowing a run on Saturday night, Carlos Estévez—newly promoted to the closer role—had a streak of 14 consecutive scoreless appearances. Setup man Jhoulys Chacín has had scoreless outings in nine of his last 10 and 19 of his last 21 outings since June 28. In addition, after a scoreless inning Monday, Colorado native Lucas Gilbreath has gone scoreless in 10 straight relief appearances and 14 of his last 15 outings since the All-Star break.

Meanwhile, reliever Robert Stephenson also tossed a scoreless inning Monday to extend his scoreless streak to six consecutive games and 10 in his last 13 contests since returning from the Injured List in early August.

Colorado Manager Bud Black spoke about Stephenson’s recent success following Monday’s contest.

“I think with Robert, again, (he’s) consistently in the strike zone with both his pitches—the fastball and the breaking ball,” Black told media after Monday’s game, including Rox Pile.

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“Efficient early in the count. I think that is critical for all pitchers. I think Robert has done that overall the last month. So, attacking the zone early and getting it in the zone. It’s one thing to have the mindset to attack the zone. It’s another thing to get it in there. Good stuff from Robert, anywhere from 95 to 98 on the fastball with some life and a devastating breaking ball. The thing I am seeing is strikes, quality strikes.”

With his current scoreless string, the right-hander has lowered his earned run average to 3.65.

Against the Giants, Colorado hitters managed just seven hits—one day after getting only two base hits vs. the Braves.

Trevor Story swatted his 19th homer of the season, a two-run shot, in the eighth inning for Colorado’s final runs of the day. Earlier in the contest, Ryan McMahon slammed his 21st roundtripper of the year and his third in the last 11 contests.

Charlie Blackmon legged out a triple in the sixth inning, his 52nd career three-bagger, to leave him one shy of the franchise record set by Dexter Fowler.

The Rockies will square off with the Giants on Tuesday night in game two of the three-game series between the two clubs. Chi Chi Gonzalez (3-6, 6.13 ERA) is slated to get the start on the mound for the Rox against Logan Webb (8-3, 2.56 ERA) in the 6:40 p.m. (Mountain time) start.

Both of the Colorado Rockies’ losses came at Coors Field.

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