April 8, Coors Field, Denver, CO, Game 4: Colorado Rockies 6, San Diego Padres 13
GAME RUNDOWN
The Colorado Rockies got walloped in their home opener against the San Diego Padres who entered the game scoreless on the season but found their way into double-digits on Friday afternoon.
The Rockies took an early 2-0 lead on two-out hits from Trevor Story and Carlos Gonzalez but starter Jordan Lyles was never sharp, struggling to get through the first three innings before finally being pummeled out of the game by a six-run explosion from the (until then) punchless Padres offense.
Story almost single-handedly got his club back in the game with his history making fifth home run of the early season. He tied an MLB record with Chris Davis, Nelson Cruz, Mark McGwire and Willie Mays to be the only players to homer in their first four games of a season. His 411 foot blast brought the Rockies to back within one, but that didn’t last long.
The relivers didn’t offer much relief, starting the very next inning. Chris Rusin was tagged for three runs as was Justin Miller who was taken deep twice. Miller matched his total number of inheretid base-runners allowed to score from a season ago in one inning. Matt Kemp and Melvin Upton were the “guilty” parties for San Diego, both of whom absolutely destroyed the pitches they got.
Christian Bergman managed two innings withut giving up any runs, but then Jason Gurka was tagged for two more, stretching San Diego’s total to 13.
Story added one more home run in the nith, making sure Rockies still had something fun to remember about a day when their team got beat up pretty bad. He now has six home runs in four games.
“I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone at any level in the kind of zone he is in,” said fellow middle infielder DJ LeMahieu. Stay tuned to BSN Denver for far more from his teammates on the eye-popping start the young shortstop is having in 2016. Trevor Story is the first player ever to have two multi-home run games in his first four games.
His blast in the ninth brought the final score to 13-6.
TURNING POINT
The six-run fourth for the Padres all started when Lyles walked opposin pitcher Colin Rea on four pitches. The Rockies almost certainly give up some runs in that inning anyway, but if Lyles gets his opposite number there, the team doesn’t play the infield in later in the inning because they already have two outs. Getting Rea in that spot could have gone a long way toward preventing the implosion.
THREE STARS
Trevor Story, Cory Spangenberg, Matt Kemp. Story added his first legitimate “web gem” of the year in addition to taking the MLB lead in RBI. Matt Kemp drove in four and smashed a home run to left-center for his first home run of the season and also showed off some nice glovework, stealing a hit from DJ LeMahieu in the late innings. Spangenberg had arguably the most important hit of the day.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Cory Spangenberg’s bases clearing triple opened the floodgates for the Padres and put the nail in the coffin on Lyles’ day. Though, special shoutout to Story’s blast for being historically significant.
QUOTE OF THE GAME
“It’s been so surreal. These first few games, I’ve felt like I’m in a dream.” -Trevor Story
LASTING IMPACT
It’s just one game but the Rockies got thouroughly outclassed by a team showing no signs of life even as late as the third inning of this game. Despite the large margin, it still feels like the Rockies gave this game away in a series of poorly executed moments. It’s too early to draw conclusions about the bullpen but it’s hard not to notice how bad the Rockies have been in that area so far, especially considering it was an offsseason area of focus for GM Jeff Bridich.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Rockies take on the Padres in Game 2 of the home opening series tomorrow night (Saturday) at 6:10 MST. Jorge De La Rosa will take on ex-Rockie Drew Pomeranz.
