Rockies vs. Rangers: How sweep it is

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The Rundown

What an absolutely great weekend of baseball! Not only did the Rockies win their first series of the year, but they did also so sweeping the defending World Series Champion, Texas Rangers. The pitching and offense were in perfect harmony, and they just looked like a completely different team; maybe that team meeting is paying off after all.

In game one, we were treated to a pitching duel as Jon Gray and Austin Gomber battled it out. Gomber gave up one run over 6.2 innings with five strikeouts and two walks. Gray, in his return to Colorado, gave up just one run over six innings, striking out seven and walking just one. Fortunately for the Rockies, a clutch double by Charlie Blackmon in the bottom of the eighth inning secured a 4-2 win.

Things looked like were were going to see another pitching duel as Ryan Feltner and Andrew Heaney were looking good. Feltner completed six innings, giving up just two runs, with four strikeouts and two walks on just 84 pitches; Feltner and Black were able to avoid that dreaded big inning. Heaney threw five solid innings, striking out eight and giving up just two runs. Luckily the Rockies were able to get to the Rangers bullpen, scoring one in the sixth inning and putting up a huge six spot in the seventh on their way to a comfortable 8-3 victory.

The Rockies wisely gave the series finale start to Ty Blach and man, he has looked good! Blach gave the ROckies five really solid and efficient innings. He only struck out two, but didn't walk a batter and only gave up one run on 70 pitches. That was the only run the Rangers would score as Vodnik, Kinley and Beeks would each toss scoreless outings. The offense got on the board early with a Tovar two-run home run and would tack on an insurance run in the eighth on a Brenton Doyle, bases loaded walk.

The Positives

Where to begin? This was one of the best series we have seen from a Rockies team in quite a while. Let's start with the bullpen. After getting called out multiple times by me and stating that some moves need to be made, the bullpen was nails this series. They both big leagues and just a two-run lead, yet they were able to lock it down and secure victories.

The starting pitching continues to look surprisingly good this year, and we didn't even see arguably the best pitcher in the rotation, Cal Quantrill. Gomber continues to show that he can stick in this rotation long term, while Ryan Feltner looks like he could be a legit mid-rotation arm with upside. Bud Black made a great decision turning to Blach to start and moving Lambert to the bullpen, where he has flourished.

An up and down year for the offense, it has been missing two key-cogs in Nolan Jones and Kris Bryant, but they were really good this series. A team 118 wRC+ in the last three games is super impressive, especially when you factor in the five stolen bases, something that I hope we continue to see from this team.

The Negatives

I don't even have anything to cover in this section this series. In their first series win, and it being a sweep of a very talented team, let's not lament on the negatives. This team needs to use this as fuel and carry it into their upcoming California road trip against the Padres, Giants and Athletics.

Coors Crown: Charlie Blackmon

This was a tough one because there were so many players who had great performances. I seriously debated Brenton Doyle, who had a really good series with six hits and three stolen bases (AND NO STRIKEOUTS). I ultimately decided on Charlie Blackmon who went 3-8 but had two huge hits. In game one, he came up with a clutch two-run double to give the Rockies a two-run lead that would ultimately make the difference. Blackmon also came up with a big three-run double that capped off a huge six-run seventh inning in game two.

Rockiest Rocky: No one!

Again, I don't think anyone deserves this award this time. No individual player played so bad that they deserve this award. Enjoy the sweep and hopefully this is signs of things to come for this team.

Stat Pack

Offensive Highlights:

Brenton Doyle - 4/8, 2B, 3 BB, 0K, 3 SB

Brendan Rodgers - 6/12, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 SB

Charlie Blackmon - 3/8, 2 2B, 4 RBI,

Pitching Highlights:

Ryan Feltner - 6 IP, 1 QS, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Austin Gomber - 6.2 IP, 1 QS, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

Ty Blach - 5 IP, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

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