Rockies set inauspicious record in loss to Diamondbacks

DENVER – The Colorado Rockies have set a new inauspicious record. In losing a tough one to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night, by a score of 5-3, they have now dropped nine straight games to their division rivals in their own ballpark, a franchise record.

Tyler Anderson was terrific again but the Diamondbacks grinded his pitch count and chased him from the game, taking advantage of a Rockies bullpen that is still looking for some answers.

Anderson’s 16-inning scoreless streak was broken immediately in the first when he gave up a solo home run to Nick Ahmed who went yard for the 12th time this season, pulling a center-cut fastball well over the wall in left.

That ended up being the sole blemish on Anderson’s evening.

He didn’t exactly cruise through the next five innings, issuing four walks, but he came up with his best pitches when he needed them the most. Most notably, in the fourth, after walking a pair, he struck out the side to strand both runners.

The Rockies tied the game in the bottom of the third on a single from DJ LeMahieu and a double by Charlie Blackmon who pulled a sharp ground ball just inside the first base bag. Nolan Arenado followed with a walk but both runners were left aboard after Trevor Story struck out, Ian Desmond grounded out, and Chris Iannetta flied out to center.

Colorado took the lead in the bottom of the fifth after an Arenado single and Story’s 25th double of the season put a pair aboard for Desmond who delivered a groundball to the right side that Paul Goldschmidt whiffed on, but the run would have scored anyway. Iannetta missed a chance to add another run with a productive out, popping up on the infield.

As soon as Anderson left the game, the Diamondbacks found new life. Reliever Jake McGee lost a tough battle with Jeff Mathis, eventually issuing a walk. Then, he surprisingly threw a slider to Chris Owings who doubled down the left-field line but not far enough in the corner for the runner to score.

But, on his very next pitch, he almost inexplicably threw his third-best pitch again, grooving it for David Peralta who blasted it over the high wall in right-center field to swing the game back in favor of Arizona by a score of 4-2.

McGee gave way to Scott Oberg who retired Ahmed and Goldschmidt before falling victim to a first-pitch-swinging A.J. Pollock who smashed his 12th homer of the season over the wall in center.

The Rockies got one back in the bottom of the seventh on Arenado’s 23rd home run of the season. Story followed by singling on the 12th pitch of the next at-bat and Desmond made it first-and-third with one out by singling through the right side on a 1-2 fastball. But Iannetta was once again unable to produce the productive out, flying out to shallow right and Gerardo Parra grounded out to second on the first pitch of his at-bat to end the inning and the threat.

Harrison Musgrave issued a walk to Daniel Descalso but otherwise worked a clean eighth.

Adam Ottavino came on in the ninth with his club down two runs and gave up a rare leadoff double, just the fourth hit he has given up at Coors Field all season. He then unleashed a wild pitch before walking Goldschmidt to put runners at first-and-third with nobody out.

But he got Pollock to fly out to straight-away center and on a strong throw in from Carlos Gonzalez that kept the runner at third, Desmond made a heads-up play to cut the ball off and nail Goldschmidt at second, turning a 9-4-3 double play. Ottavino got a groundout from Steven Souza Jr., escaping the frame with no damage done.

Blackmon led off the bottom of the ninth by singling up the middle but and Story flew out, Desmond walked, and Iannetta groundout to third to end the game.

The Rockies went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base.

Final Stats:

Tyler Anderson: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 8 K

Jake McGee: 0.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Scott Oberg: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Harrison Musgrave: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Adam Ottavino: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB

Nolan Arenado: 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, HR (23)

DJ LeMahieu: 1-for-5, 1 R

Charlie Blackmon: 2-for-5, 1 RBI

Trevor Story: 2-for-4

Ian Desmond: 1-for-4, 1 RBI

What’s Next:

In Game 2, German Marquez will face off against Shelby Miller, looking to overcome his home-field demons. First pitch on Wednesday night at 6:40 Mountain Time.