
The Rockies had a threat in the ninth, but weren’t able to close it out
The Colorado Rockies were shut out for a second-straight night, but they still held their opponent to just two runs. Chase Dollander looked sharp again, but the offense didn’t help him earn a second win as he is now 1-1 on the season.
Chase Dollander sharp
After giving up another early home run — a solo leadoff homer to Fernando Tatís, Jr. — Dollander really settled into a rhythm again. He retired the next six Padres before walking Manny Machado, but then didn’t allow him to score by retiring the next seven batters.
“We saw in Denver the composure after he gave up the homer to [Tyler] Soderstrom in the first — composed,” Bud Black said after the game. “I think that’s the thing that’s been impressive to me is his demeanor and his in-game awareness. He’s solid, which is great to see from a young pitcher. I’ve said it a number of times, but what you look for in a young pitcher or position player when they come up are a number of boxes checked on the mental side and he’s checked them all.”
Unfortunately, though, he did give up another solo homer in the fifth to put the Friars up 2-0. He kept dealing, but made a throwing error in the sixth attempting to cut down Luis Arraez. He attempted to pick off Arraez again at third, but was unsuccessful. However, Arraez was eventually cut down attempting to steal home — ye olde 2-4-2-5 play that ended with Ryan McMahon diving to barely tag him out.
Dollander was relieved by Jimmy Herget after throwing 93 pitches. In total, Dollander threw 5 2⁄3 innings and allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. All of the six runs he’s given up so far have come via the home run. He also became the first starter this season to hold the Padres to three or fewer hits and strike out seven or more.
It’s still early, but he’s got a bright future.
Help us, Kyle Farmer. You’re our only hope!
The Rockies have recorded four hits in two games in San Diego… and they all belong to Kyle Farmer. Last night, Farmer went 3-for-3 with two doubles; tonight, he went 2-for-3 with a walk. In total, Farmer has gone 5-for-7 with two doubles, one walk and one strikeout so far this series.
“My dad texted me and reminded me that I hit pretty well in San Diego in my past history,” Farmer said after the game, “so I think just having that confidence. I’m feeling good to play right now, but it’s baseball and you go through some hot streaks and then you’ve got to just kinda stay even keel and just keep showing up every day and being consistent.”
Black added his thoughts on Farmer’s hot streak.
“He’s a veteran player that knows his game and knows his swing — it’s a short, compact swing,” he said after the game. “And what about the defense? Two plays against Iglesias going to his left, Kyle’s delivered in every aspect.”
Farmer did indeed make a diving stop in the second to stop José Iglesias, and stopped him again in the seventh. Can he keep it up tomorrow?
The rest of the offense… needs work
If you remove Farmer’s four hits, the rest of the Rockies’ offense has performed abysmally, to say the least. In fact, they have gone 2-for-53 with 24 strikeouts.
Not a great strategy, Cotton.
But they did have some life in the ninth inning against Padres’ closer Robert Suarez.
Zac Veen led off with a single, becoming just the second player not named Kyle Farmer to get a base hit in this series (Nick Martini got the first in the eighth). Ezequiel Tovar struck out, but then Farmer notched his second hit of the night to put the potential winning run on base.
Unfortunately, though, McMahon also struck out swinging to brought Kris Bryant up to the plate. Bryant squared up the first pitch — a 99-MPH four-seam fastball — but unfortunately, Tatís made a leaping grab at the warning track to the both the threat and the game.
Up Next
The Rockies will look to avoid the sweep tomorrow. They’ve avoided the sweep in their last two series by winning the final game. Can they do it again?
Kyle Freeland will take the mound for the Rockies against Padres’ righty Michael King. First pitch is at 2:10pm MT.