Melville delivers to snap skid against San Diego

Regardless of the five games separating Colorado from being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the 2019 season is completely vanquished.

If the Rockies are going to contend for a playoff spot next season, there’s a strong chance they will be battling with the up-and-coming San Diego Padres.

Friday night wasn’t exactly a glimpse into 2020 for either team.

Starting pitcher Tim Melville took the hill for the purples in place of rotation stalwarts Jon Gray, German Marquez, Kyle Freeland, et al. Missing from the Friars starting nine was the most electrifying rookie in baseball this year, Fernando Tatis Jr.

After five combined runs through innings one-through-three, a pitcher’s duel broke out between Melville and San Diego’s Dinelson Lamet.

Colorado was on the board early thanks to Trevor Story’s leadoff single to center. He quickly swiped second base for his 20th stolen base of the season, making the 26-year-old shortstop the first player in franchise history with multiple seasons of 30 home runs and 20 stolen bases.

Charlie Blackmon followed with a single to center to score Story. After a pass ball and wild pitch, Ryan McMahon put one on the ground for an out to allow Blackmon to put ahead the Rockies 2-0.

In the bottom half of the first, back-to-back singles by Greg Garcia and Nick Martini put runners on the corner. A fly ball out by Machado seemed to be deep enough to get one across home, but left fielder Raimel Tapia fired a perfect strike to catcher Dom Nunez to get Garcia at the plate to keep the lead intact.

Nunez turned around and immediately singled with one out in the second. Starting pitcher Tim Melville executed a great sacrifice bunt to move Nunez into scoring position. It worked: Story singled when third baseman Machado could not replicate an Arenado-esque play; a throwing error by the $300MM man allowed Nunez to score.

San Diego snapped the shutout in the third when Garcia got plunked and Martini notched his second knock in as many at bats, a double to right that gave the home side a chance to get back into the game. Eric Hosmer and his $144MM contract singled to center to score both runners.

Lamet settled after allowing three early runs, getting ten-straight Rockies’ batters before Nolan Arenado singled to start the sixth. McMahon added a one-out single of his own, but Tapia and rookie Sam Hilliard could not squeeze out another run.

Melville recaptured the magic of his debut, striking out eight hitters and walking just two. His use of the slider kept the Padres off balance throughout the game.

James Pazos, in his third appearance with Colorado, entered in the sixth with a runner aboard to face pinch hitter Hunter Renfroe, who grounded weakly to first base to end the cause for concern.

DJ Johnson recorded an out, but walked two, and Carlos Estevez performed well in 1.2 innings pitched.

Jairo Diaz closed it out in the ninth to preserve the 3-2 win for Colorado, snapping a nine-game losing streak, and securing his first career save.