Rockies lose third straight stinker

This was by far the best pitching performance the Rockies have seen this year from the opposition, other than maybe Jose Berrios of the Minnesota Twins. James Paxton, fresh off the disabled list, quieted the Rockies bats in a 5-0 victory.

Rockies rookie sensation Antonio Senzatela keep the Rockies in the game but ran into some rough spots, one of which was the second inning. The right-hander surrendered back-to-back singles to Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager to open the frame, followed by a two-RBI double to Danny Valencia to give the Mariners the early 2-0 lead.

Later that inning, Mariners catcher Mike Zunino, the nine hitter, collected a two-out RBI double that was absolutely scorched to the fence in left field, plating Valencia to tack on another run.

Senzatela fell into some more trouble in the bottom half of the fifth inning. He issued a walk to Jarrod Dyson to start the frame, followed by a balk, and a strikeout of Mike Zunino which got away from catcher Tony Wolters allowing Dyson to gallop to third. After a four-pitch walk to Jean Segura to place runners on the corners with one out, Senzatela fell behind again, this time to Ben Gamel who made him pay. Gamel flipped a fastball down the left field line to plate Dyson to go ahead 4-0.

Gamel added another RBI with a sacrifice fly off Mike Dunn in the bottom half of the seventh inning, pushing Seattle’s lead to five.

That was all the support that southpaw James Paxton needed.

This was Paxton’s first start back from the disabled list and he didn’t disappoint. He has his A+ stuff, but only lasted 5 1/3 innings due to a pitch count. He ended up throwing 74 pitches, 57 for strikes while giving up just three hits and striking out six.

Wolters was the only Rockie that had any sort of success against Paxton, collecting two of Colorado’s three hits off him. Charlie Blackmon added a single of his own.

The lone highlight of the game from the Rockies had to be DJ LeMahieu‘s spin throw to nab Seager out at first base. The impressive part of that play is the fact that Colorado implanted the shift while DJ, after making the throw, ended up down the right field line.

That’s something you’ll rarely see.

Colorado’s bats were ice cold. The team managed just four hits — all singles.

This is the fifth time Colorado has been shut out this season. They were shutout a total of five times in 2016.

The Rockies fell to 33-22 and are now tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks for second place in the tight NL West.