Another win: Rockies are certainly hitting like a team ready to contend

Just how good can the Colorado Rockies be offensively this season?

Colorado fans are getting at least a glimpse of that this spring, and Tuesday was another Cactus League game in which the Rockies’ offense was clicking on all cylinders.

In a 9-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds, the Rockies collected 15 hits, five for extra bases, and clobbered a pair of homeruns as they harassed the Red’s pitching from start to finish.

The onslaught included a 2-for-3 outing from leadoff hitter Brenton Doyle, who hit a homerun as well. Ryan McMahon had two hits and two RBIs, while Thaio Estrada had a pair of hits, including a triple. Nolan Jones also had multiple hits, while Austin Nola homered and Kris Bryant got into the act with a hit himself as the Rockies’ DH.

Bradley Blalock was the beneficiary of a big early lead, as he picked up the win, surrendering just four hits while striking out two in three innings of work. 

But hitting was the story for the Rockies, and it has been all spring. Colorado is hitting .272 as a team since Cactus League play began. The Rockies are slugging .444 with 10 dingers and they have an OPS of .768. Despite it being spring training, those numbers bode well for a Colorado team trying so hard to make improvements this season, despite a young roster that is once again projected to be one of the worst teams in baseball.

However, through a 9-5 start to Cactus League games, at the plate, the Rockies don’t look like, nor do they act like a team that is going to finish in the cellar of the N.L. West this year. Instead, Colorado is hitting like a team that wants beleives it can climb the ladder in the national league.

Of course, time will tell. But, offensively, the Rockies are showing fans and pundits why no one should be sleeping on them right now.

The Rockies are back in action on Wednesday with a road game against the N.L. West rival San Diego Padres. That game starts at 1:10 p.m.

Note: On Monday, the Rockies announced that right-handed pitcher Justin Lawrence has been claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Colorado has 39 players on the 40-man roster with 58 players remaining in big-league camp, including 19 non-roster invitees.