Rockies offense stifled again, Colorado loses on late Arenado error

It was another bad night for the Colorado Rockies offense, especially with runners on base, scoring just three runs for the sixth consecutive game. All three runs came on solo home runs. They were 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base in a 4-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves in the second of a four-game set.

In his first at-bat back in the starting lineup after missing a game with a hand bruise, Nolan Arenado put the Rockies on top with a solo home run over the wall in straightaway center field. With his 27th homer of the season, Arenado became the ninth player in Rockies history to record at least 300 RBI at Coors Field. Already.

The Braves immediately took the lead, though. Freeland issued a leadoff walk to Tyler Flowers, which is never good, and then a two-out walk to Lane Adams, which is even more never-good. Still, Freeland got ahead of Dansby Swanson 0-2 before missing location up on a fastball and surrendering a two-RBI double and the lead.

Mark Reynolds tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run. It was his 24th round tripper of the season but only the second since July 24.

Trevor Story put the Rockies back on top with a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth. It was his 16th home run of the season and first since July 29.

Atlanta tied the game in the sixth on a two-out one-run home run from Nick Markakis.

That would finish up Freeland’s night. His final line: 6 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. He threw 57 of his 87 pitches for strikes. That’s a pretty good start, making just two mistake pitches that cost him each of the runs but most times at Coors Field that will get your ballclub a win.

Pat Neshek appeared to be clear of the eighth inning, getting a ground ball to third with a runner at second and two outs, but an incredibly rare poor throw from Arenado sank into the dirt and skipped far enough away from Reynolds that the run was able to score. Not only is an unforced throwing error from Arenado remarkably uncommon, it’s even wackier that the ball ricocheted the way it did to allow the go-ahead run to score. It was undoubtedly a tough break for the Rockies.

Colorado fell to 66-53 but with the Arizona Diamondbacks losing today remain tied for the top spot in the National League Wild Card race. The St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers are five games back of the NL West tandem.