Rockies season ends with a whimper

DENVER – A lackluster Rockies that recorded only three hits led the way in disappointment for the first Rockies playoff game at Coors Field in nearly a decade.

Getting shutout for the second straight time, the Rockies were swept out of the NLDS after a 6-0 loss in their final game of the season.

German Marquez improved upon his Opening Day performance, but ultimately fell short of what was needed to win an a cold October day. A strange and uncharacteristic inning from Scott Oberg only added the feeling that today would not result in a Rockies victory.

Milwaukee got on the board early after Christian Yelich walked during an eight-pitch at bat. Yelich moved up to third base on Ryan Braun’s single and scored on a Travis Shaw ground ball that nearly ended the inning in a double play.

Marquez settled down in the second to strike out two batters and he worked through a nine pitch third inning with a one-two-three frame against the top of the Brewers order.

In the fourth, Jesus Aguilar hammered an 83-mph curveball from Marquez 418-ft for a solo home run to put up the Brewers 2-0.

Marquez caught a break in the fifth when it looked like the Brewers were poised to add to their lead. With runners on the corners, Travis Shaw hit a grounder destined for right field, but it hit baserunner Ryan Braun for the third out.

For the Rockies offense, they rallied to put runners on first and second with one out in the second inning thanks to Trevor Story’s first base hit of the series and a six pitch walk by Carlos Gonzalez, but ultimately  fell short of pushing a run across home plate.

In the third and fifth innings, the Rockies could only muster a double by DJ LeMahieu and a single by Tony Wolters, respectively.

Scott Oberg came on to start the sixth inning and things unraveled quickly. Mike Moutakas singled and 38-year-old Erik Kratz, the oldest player to make his postseason debut since Lave Cross in 1905, doubled to right field for his third hit of the day.

Oberg struck out Orlando Arcia on three pitches to bring veteran Curtis Granderson to the plate as a pinch hitter for the pitcher’s spot.

With the ball in his mitt, Oberg flipped the ball to his pitching hand but missed the exchange, dropping the ball beside him for a balk. The runners moved up, scoring Moustakas and putting Kratz on third.

On the very next pitch, Oberg threw a slider in the dirt that got passed Tony Wolters and the least likeliest of stars in this series came home to score, putting up Milwaukee 4-0.

Adam Ottavino and Seunghwan Oh came on for an inning apiece to to keep the Brewers at bay, but the Rockies bats could not produce against rookie Corbin Burnes during his two innings of work.

Adding insult to injury, closer Wade Davis came on in the ninth before the Rockies last opportunity, but Colorado’s single-season saves record holder gave up back-to-back home runs to Orlando Arcia and Keon Broxton, extending the deficit to 6-0.

Colorado did not go down without a fight in the bottom of the ninth.

Nolan Arenado lined out to the first baseman, sealing an 0-for-4 day and a 3-for-16 series, before Trevor Story doubled to left field and Matt Holliday drew a walk, ousting Milwaukee’s closer, Jeremy Jeffress.

Josh Hader came on for the Brewers and quickly dispatched Carlos Gonzalez and Ian Desmond to finish off a sweep of the Rockies.

Coming into today’s game, the Rockies were 2-4 in postseason elimination games, with the two victories coming in their first opportunity in game three of the 1995 NLDS on the road against John Smoltz and the Atlanta Braves as well as their most recent opportunity in the 2018 National League Wild Card Game against Jon Lester and the Chicago Cubs.

Rockies fans came out to support their team on Sunday. Though 49,658 came out to Coors Field for the first game since October 12, 2009 – a whopping 3,282 days ago – the support fell short of Colorado’s single game attendance at Coors Field of 50,724 against the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2007 NLDS.

The loss to the Brewers ends a successful 2018 campaign, but nevertheless ends in disappointment without a National League West title, a playoff victory at home or even one in the Division Series round.

Stats

German Márquez: 5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 71-55 (pitches-strikes), 8-0 (groundout-flyout)

Scott Oberg: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 K, balk

Adam Ottavino: 1 IP

Seunghwan Oh: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB

Wade Davis: 0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 HR

Chris Rusin: 1 IP, 1 BB

Charlie Blackmon: 0-4, 1 K, 1 LOB

DJ LeMahieu: 1-3, 2B, BB, 1 K

Nolan Arenado: 0-4, 1 K, 2 LOB

Trevor Story: 2-4, 2B, 1 K, 1 LOB

Matt Holliday: 0-3, BB, 1 K, 2 LOB

Carlos Gonzalez: 0-3, BB, 2 K, 2 LOB

Ian Desmond: 0-4, 1 K, 4 LOB

Tony Wolters: 1-2, 2 LOB