DENVER – It was a wild one at Coors Field on Sunday in a game that saw just about everything. From some rising tensions over hit batsmen to multiple comeback attempts to incredible defense by both clubs—even a crazy fan running out on the field—and more insane defensive plays than you can shake a stick at, you just never knew what was going to happen next.
Once the dust had settled, the Rockies many rallies came up just short, dropping the game 9-7, and losing the series to the Chicago Cubs, meaning they are still looking for their first home series win.
German Marquez looked sharp right away but it all unraveled after a high fastball ran too far inside and hit Kris Bryant in the helmet. It was a 1-2 count in the first inning of a rubber match, there was no chance it was intentional, but a pair of Cubs coaches were ejected after the play for chirping at the Rockies young pitcher.
He was visibly shaken and allowed four consecutive singles after that, though one on a bloop that fell just in between the shortstop and left fielder. But after being just one pitch from an excellent first frame, suddenly Marquez had surrendered three runs.
It looked like the Rockies were going to strike back in both the first and second innings, getting a runner to second in each frame and then getting hard line drives toward the left-center field gap off the bats of Nolan Arenado and Noel Cuevas, making his MLB debut. But both times, Cubs centerfielder Albert Almora Jr. made fantastic diving catches, stealing away the extra-base hit and the run.
Marquez continued to look off, giving up a big solo home run to Javier Baez in the second and a two-run single to Jason Heyward in the third and although he would finish the inning, that basically chased him from the game down 6-0.
Before exiting officially though, Marquez needed to take an at-bat with Colorado’s short bench and managed to spark a rally in the third by singling up the middle. Charlie Blackmon also singled and a pair of runs scored when Trevor Story hit a high drive to right that Heyward lost in the sun.
Colorado pulled closer with back-to-back home runs on consecutive pitches from Blackmon and Arenado in the fifth.
The defense began to sparkle as well:
HOW⁉ pic.twitter.com/9NPDsIMoY9
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 22, 2018
The bullpen was cruising until Mike Dunn ran into trouble in the seventh. It began with a controversial walk to Kyle Schwarber who took a two-strike curveball right down the middle, but it was ruled a ball. A misplay on a sac bunt, where nobody was covering first base, and a two-out double from Baez took a game that had become close and swung it back heavily in favor of the Cubs, taking a 9-4 lead.
The Rockies wouldn’t just go away though, cutting the lead to two again, getting a single from Blackmon and walks from Arenado and Trevor Story before Ryan McMahon got an RBI fielder’s choice on a soft grounder and David Dahl came up with a big base hit in his first game back at the MLB level. He stung a line drive off the pitcher that scored two, making 9-7.
Colorado made it exciting and dramatic in the ninth, loading the bases with singles from Arenado and Story and walk by Dahl but with Desmond at the plate, Arenado tried to score on a ball in the dirt. He was originally ruled safe but upon review was called out and one final comeback was snuffed out.
Final Stats:
German Marquez: 3.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Chris Rusin: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Bryan Shaw: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Mike Dunn: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Scott Oberg: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER
Jake McGee: 1 IP, 1 K
Adam Ottavino: 1 IP, 1 BB, 2 K
Nolan Arenado: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, HR
Charlie Blackmon: 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, HR
Trevor Story: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 3B
Ian Desmond: 2-for-3, BB
What’s Next:
The Rockies look to get back on track against the San Diego Padres who come to Denver for a three-game set starting Monday. You may have heard about some fireworks between these two teams the last time they faced each other. Chad Bettis is scheduled to pitch against Bryan Mitchell. First pitch at 6:40 Mountain Time.
