Errors doom Rockies, Astros pull away in extras

The Colorado Rockies and Houston Astros battled in a closely contested ballgame for most of Tuesday night at Coors Field after about an hour-long rain delay. The clubs looked on an even playing field and the late-game momentum was even with the home team, but a few key errors on defense and an implosion from their closer saw the Rockies force the game to extra then lose, bafflingly, by a score of 8-2 in the 10th.

Early on, the battle of Tyler Anderson and Gerrit Cole took center stage.

Both starting pitchers were excellent but further proof that it’s more in how you end than how you start in this game.

The Astros pounced on Anderson in the first, taking advantage of a rare Trevor Story fielding error in the first at-bat of the game. Alex Bregman followed with what turned out to be one of only three hits against the Rockies lefty in the game, but it was a huge one, launching a no-doubt two-run home run to left, giving Houston the early lead.

It was the All-Star Game MVP’s 21st home run of the season.

The Rockies didn’t get their first hit against Cole until Ian Desmond singled up the middle in the fourth. He moved to second on an Arenado groundout and over to third on a ball in the dirt but was stranded there when Carlos Gonzalez struck out.

Colorado’s second hit came with two outs in the sixth when Charlie Blackmon came just a few feet short of a home run, doubling instead off the high scoreboard in right. Desmond hit a hard line drive in the ensuing at-bat but it was right at right-fielder Josh Reddick.

But the strategy that has paid off recently against the likes of Madison Bumgarner and James Paxton showed up again in the seventh as Cole appeared to be tiring. Nolan Arenado greeted him with a leadoff double into the opposite-field gap. Then CarGo, after ripping a third-deck shot that landed foul, lined one into that same gap for a double of his own, scoring Arenado.

Trevor Story followed with almost the exact same kind of line-drive out Desmond had to end the prior inning but Gerardo Parra was able to pick up the big hit by singling to shallow right, tying the game at two runs apiece.

In a play that almost worked wonders but instead fell on its face, Parra took off for second and rookie Garrett Hampson hit a sinking liner to center but George Springer was able to reel it in and turn it into an inning-ending double play.

Anderson stayed on to record the first out of the top of the eighth, giving way to Adam Ottavino. After that tough first inning, he lasted longer than his counterpart.

Otto struck out the two batters he faced to complete the eighth.

Colorado had a chance to take advantage of a few mistakes in the bottom of eighth against reliever Joe Smith but had real trouble picking up the baseball from his sidearm delivery.

The inning opened when he plunked Chris Iannetta on a 1-2 pitch, prompting Bud Black to go to pinch-hitter Raimel Tapia.

After a few unsuccessful attempts to get the bunt down, Tapia swung through strike three on a fastball right down the middle. Blackmon then followed by striking out on three pitches but Desmond was able to reach after first baseman Yasiel Gurriel couldn’t handle a hard-hit grounder, allowing pinch-runner Noel Cuevas to reach third.

Arenado had his chance with runners at first-and-third in the tie game but had only a moderately better time handling Smith, popping out into the foul territory behind first base.

Wade Davis pitched a clean ninth but the Rockies went quietly in the bottom half, setting the stage for extra innings.

The Astros didn’t wait to apply pressure, getting a line drive single to center that turned into a nightmare for Blackmon when it skipped by him, allowing Reddick to reach third with nobody out.

The Rockies brought the infield in and the Astros countered by trying to get Marwin Gonzalez to lay down a bunt. He ended up striking out in the attempt. Davis then worked around Max Stassi, getting the count to 2-2 but walking him in the hunt for the strikeout.

That did set up a potential double play but Tony Kemp was able to loft a soft single over the infield to score the go-ahead run. On the first pitch of the next at-bat, pinch-hitter Kyle Tucker hit a high line drive just over the head of Gonzalez in right, scoring another of runs.

Things then really spiraled away from the Rockies when Springer smashed a homer just over the wall in left to give the Astros a rather sudden 7-2 lead. And it wasn’t over.

Yency Almonte replaced Davis and was greeted by a line drive single from Bregman and a pair of single up the middle just out of the reach of a diving Hampson from both Altuve and Gurriel to score one more. Almonte was finally able to get Reddick to ground into the double play.

Colorado falls to 53-47 and are now three games back of first place in the NL West.

Final Stats:

Tyler Anderson: 7.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

Adam Ottavino: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Wade Davis: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Yency Almonte: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Carlos Gonzalez: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI

Gerardo Parra: 1-for-3, 1 RBI

Nolan Arenado: 1-for-3, 1 R

What’s Next:

The second of two games between these two teams take place on Wednesday evening at Coors Field. Jon Gray will face off against Charlie Morton. First pitch at 6:40 Mountain Time.