Rox offense leaves Anderson's excellent performance out to dry

DENVER – The Colorado Rockies got a fantastic performance out of starting pitcher Tyler Anderson, but a mistake from a reliever and a lack of a sustained offensive effort led to another home loss to the San Diego Padres by a score of 5-2. They are now 1-4 at Coors Field to start the season.

Colorado got on the board with a Trevor Story two-run home run over the high scoreboard in right field in the first. It was the only time in the game they would score.

Anderson didn’t allow a baserunner until he had two outs in the third. Manuel Margot took the extra base on a grounder that died in the outfield grass and it paid off on a double to left for Jose Pirela. That made it a one-run game.

Eric Hosmer then hit a hard single to left but Ian Desmond was able to throw out Pirela at the plate with some help on a fantastic tag by Chris Iannetta, preserving the narrow lead.

Austin Hedges launched a no-doubt home run on the first pitch he saw in the fifth but Anderson recorded two more strikeouts in preventing any more damage in the inning.

The Rockies lefty cruised through the sixth but with the game still tied at two runs apiece, manager Bud Black went to his bench, calling upon rookie Ryan McMahon who continued his early-season struggles by striking out.

Bryan Shaw entered the game in the seventh and recorded two quick outs but a pair of seeing-eye-singles from Jose Pirela and Eric Hosmer—the latter of which could easily have been ruled an error on part-time first baseman Pat Valaika—set the stage for the backbreaker; a three-run shot to right off the bat of Hunter Renfroe, who had looked lost against Anderson earlier in the contest.

Those were the first runs Shaw has given up so far this season.

The only other chance for some scoring for the home club came in the bottom of the seventh when Nolan Arenado lined a triple off the wall in right. Story followed with a walk and would even steal second base. But a flyout from Desmond, strikeout from Gerardo Parra, and pop up from Valaika stranded both runners.

Final Stats:

Rockies:

Tyler Anderson: 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

Bryan Shaw: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Mike Dunn: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R 1 BB, 0 K

Trevor Story: 1-for-2, 1 R, 2 RBI, HR (3) SB (2)

Nolan Arenado: 2-for-3, 3B

Padres:

Joey Lucchesi: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K

Jose Pirela: 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI

Hunter Renfroe: 1-for-4, 1 R, 3 RBI, HR

What’s Next:

Colorado will try to salvage the final game in the series tomorrow afternoon. German Marquez will look to bounce back from his rough outing in the Home Opener against Luis Perdomo. First pitch is at 1:10 Mountain Time.