Parra brings big bat, bullpen bullies Brewers in Rockies win

In the top of the second, Rockies outfielder Gerardo Parra left ’em loaded, grounding out to second. But he would have his revenge.

Tyler Anderson struck out the first batter he saw in 2017 on three pitches and got a little help from Nolan Arenado on a diving stop to end the first.

But the Brewers scored first when third baseman Travis Shaw hit a one-out double off the wall in the bottom of the second. First baseman Jesus Aguilar scored him on a line drive single and again Arenado came through with a nice double play to end the inning.

The Rockies struck back immediately. Charlie Blackmon led off with a single and hit-and-run almost led to a double play Jonathan Villar misplayed the ball and Rockies got first and second with nobody out. After a Carlos Gonzalez lineout, Arenado hit a game-tying double, notching his first RBI of 2017. Trevor Story followed with a walk to load the bases and this time Parra came through, promptly unloading the bases with a gap double to give the Rockies a 4-1 lead.

But the Brewers came right back. Ryan Braun hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 4th to make it 4-2. Shaw got to Anderson again, hitting his second double of the game, this time to the opposite field, scoring Domingo Santiago who had walked. The inning ended with a poor base running decision on a bloop single by Jeff Bandy when Trevor Story was able to throw Shaw out at home with relative ease and preserve the 4-3 lead.

In the top of the fifth with one out, Story drew a walk and Parra kept his good play going with a single on a hit-and-run, taking advantage of the moving shortstop. Speaking of good play, Mark Reynolds continues to take advantage of being given the starting role, smacking a double that scored Story. It was his fourth RBI in two games.

Blackmon made it 6-3 with an opposite field singe, but Reynolds was thrown out at the plate, ending the rally.

In Game 1, Jon Gray was unable to recover from his tough inning in the fifth and was pulled in favor of a bullpen that did not allow an earned run. In Game 2, Anderson appeared to bounce all the way back, striking out the side in the fifth and getting his fourth consecutive K to start the sixth. But a sharp single from Braun — who seemed to have Anderson’s number — and a double from Santana set the stage for a sacrifice groundout to bring the Brewers within two at 6-4.

Manager Bud Black made a visit to the mound but decided to let his second-year pitcher stay in the game and try to record the final out of the sixth. Instead, Manny Pina lined a single down the third base line, scoring Santana and making it a one-run game at 6-5.

Jake McGee came on to relieve Anderson and gave up a single to the only hitter he faced. He was replaced by Carlos Estevez who became locked in a battle with Keon Broxton who fouled off 98 mph fastball after 98 mph fastball. But Estevez finally went to the slider (a few times) and got the strikeout to end the threat and preserve the lead. As Sarah Ford writes, the Rockies young relievers will be a key to success all season.

It’s tough to say if Black made the right call to stay with Anderon, but it certainly worked out when he gave McGee the quick hook and went to The Wild Thing.

Other than the single off of McGee and a walk by Adam Ottavino in the seventh, the Rockies pen was perfect again. Mike Dunn struck out the side — all looking — in the eighth and Greg Holland got a pair of strikeouts in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to secure his second save of the season.

Parra led off the seventh with a single making him 3-for-3 in the game, though he later lined out to left, ending his perfect day at the plate.

So far, Reynolds and Parra — both players who were slated to be bench guys when the Rockies were fully healthy — have been the heartbeat of the offense.

The two parts of the team that needed to prove themselves the most coming into 2017 were the bench and the bullpen. And they have been the reasons why the Rockies are 2-0.