Jeff Hoffman pitches like an ace, Rockies keep rolling

The Colorado Rockies keep rolling right along, picking up a win against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first of their four-game set behind another brilliant spot start performance from rookie pitcher Jeff Hoffman. This is the second time Hoffman has stepped into the rotation because of an odd schedule and picked up a win only to (likely) be sent back down to Triple-A because Colorado has so many other rookie pitchers getting the job done at the MLB level already.

But that should not diminish how remarkably fantastic Hoffman was in this game. He sat on 96-98 mph with the fastball and threw his curveball with confidence and accuracy. He allowed just three hits over seven innings and did not walk a batter.

The Rockies got the scoring started in the third. Alexi Amarista hit a groundball single up the middle and Tony Wolters lofted a single just out of the reach of a leaping Freddy Galvis to start the inning. Hoffman did his job, laying down the sac bunt despite getting behind 0-2, to move the runners up. That brought Charlie Blackmon to the plate and that almost always means good things for Colorado. It did once again as the Bearded One worked a beautiful at-bat that ended in a contact double down the left field line, giving the Rockies a 2-0 lead.

Those were RBI 34 and 35 for Blackmon on the year, who, you may have heard, hits out of the lead-off spot where such opportunities can be rare. Odds be damned, Blackmon is now fifth in MLB in RBI. He is also tied for fifth in extra-base hits with former teammate Corey Dickerson.

Blackmon then came in to score on a single from DJ LeMahieu that made the Rockies second baseman — and defending batting champion — 5-for-his-last-6 at the plate.

The Rockies added another run in the sixth with a sac fly from Gerardo Parra, scoring Carlos Gonzalez who had doubled. That made it 4-1 and that was all the scoring until Blackmon plated another pair of insurance runs in the ninth. It was a tough play at first but ultimately ruled an error so he only got one RBI and stayed in fifth.

Nolan Arenado added a two-run home run in the ninth to put the game firmly away and make the score 8-1.

CarGo, with a single in the ninth, has now reached base nine times in his last three games.

Hoffman stayed on through the seventh, throwing some of the most impressive pitches of his phenomenal outing in his final frame, including this gem to strike out Tommy Joesph:

THE FUTURE pic.twitter.com/OIHpUdrTSc

— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) May 23, 2017

His final line: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K. He threw 65 of his 99 pitches for strikes. That’s the ace the Rockies traded Troy Tulowitzki for. As we said the last time this happened, we will see Hoffman again this season.

Scott Oberg and Mike Dunn combined to strike out the side in the eighth before things got out of hand and Jake McGee pitched a clean ninth to make it official.

Colorado moved to 29-17 on the season, 16-7 on the road. They have now tied the Houston Astros for the most wins in MLB.

Yet again, the Rockies won because of brilliant pitching, good defense, and just enough offense, but what is becoming more and more clear to the outside world is that the Rockies have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to quality starting pitchers under the age of 26.