Rockies continue to streak in the wrong direction

With mainly younger players up and down the lineup card, the Colorado Rockies extended their Cactus League losing streak to five games, and, a streak like that is all part of a team really trying to grow up.

Against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday afternoon, the Rockies gave up eight runs for the fourth straight game in an 8-5 loss.

Offensively, many of the Rockies’ big-league starters were rested against the Reds, and Colorado did manage nine hits. Highlights included Yanquiel Fernandez homering on a day after he was designated for assignment. 

Meanwhile, Zac Veen, who is still with the big-league club, belted his second homerun of the spring. Another player looking to make the major league roster, Adeal Amador doubled in a run, as Colorado flashed what could be the future of its lineup.

And still, none of it mattered becase the Rockies watched the Reds break open a scoreless game in the fourth, and lead 3-0, then pull away with five runs in the final three innings.

For the fifth straight outing, it was Colorado’s bullpen that let the Rockies down. After Kyle Freeland had a strong start with eight  strikeouts, though he did surrender three runs, Seth Halvorsen had a disastrous turn on the mound, and that begs the questions, is the Rockies’ bullpen ready for this season?

During the current losing streak, that answer seems like a no. Colorado’s team ERA has ballooned to nearly 5.0 in the last week. 

And after such a strong starts, the Rockies have fallen to 11-8 in Cactus League games, and the pitching staff seems to have taken a step back. The Rockies will get a chancde to right the ship on Wednesday when they take on the San Diego Padres at Salt River Fields. First pitch is set for 2:10 p.m.

Notes: On Tuesday, Fernandez and RHP Tanner Gordon were optioned to AAA Albuquerque. They also reassigned LHP Carson Palmquist to minor league camp. Last Sunday, the Rockies Optioned LHP Evan Justice and RHPs Anthony Molina and Juan Mejia to Albuquerque. They Reassigned LHP Jefry Yan to minor league camp. Agreed to terms with RHPs Jake Bird, Bradley Blalock, Angel Chivilli, Jeff Chiswell, Tanner Gordon, Seth Halvorsen, Jaden Hill, Juan Mejua, Anthony Molina and Victor Vodnik, LHPs Evan Justice and Luis Peralta, INFs Adael Amador, Aaron Schuck and Michael Toglia, OFs Jordan Beck, Sean Bouchard, Brenton Doyle, Yanquiel Fernandez, Nolan Jones, Zac Veen, UTL Greg Jones, and Cs Hunter Goodman and Drew Romo.