Rox toss 4th shutout, aim for first series sweep

It’s going to be tough to beat the 2018 Colorado Rockies if they pitch like this.

After scoring a combined 15 runs in the first game of the series, there were only two in a pitcher’s duel on Saturday night. It looked for a while like a first-inning home run from Nolan Arenado was going to be the only scoring play in the game, but the Rockies got another one late to make it a 2-0 win.

The last time a Rockies’ pitcher failed to get at least a quality start was when Tyler Anderson had to be removed from the first game in Miami. The last time before that was on April 23 at home against San Diego when Chad Bettis got knocked around for four runs in the first but recovered for the rest of the game.

Bettis was magnificent in this one though.

With two outs in the top of the first, Arenado went down and got an off-speed pitch at the bottom of the zone, hammering it well over the wall in center field.

The string of excellent starting pitching rolls on like a coal train and Chad Bettis turned in another beauty. He scattered six hits—the only one that went for extra bases was a Jay Bruce grounder against the shift—and he did not give up a run. He walked one and only struck out two but continues to use a smart use of pitch-and-location mix to keep hitters from squaring him up fully or regularly.

The best and most consistent pitcher for Colorado this season lowered his ERA to 2.05 in seven starts.

Adam Ottavino came on with the Rockies still clinging to a one-run lead in the eighth. He caught a few tough breaks, beginning with a walk on a borderline 3-2 call. Then, it appeared he had gotten a fantastic double play from Arenado off the bat of Yoenis Cespedes but he was ruled safe at first. The call stood upon replay that looked inconclusive.

Cespedes stole second base but Otto struck out Asdrubal Cabrera (despite another tough call) and got Jay Bruce to fly out to left.

The Rockies finally got some insurance in the top of the ninth with a two-out rally that began with Chris Iannetta getting plunked. Noel Cuevas followed with a groundball single to right and Carlos Gonzalez was intentionally passed which brought pinch-hitter David Dahl to the play.

Dahl worked way ahead in the count, getting a 3-0 advantage and took a hack at a fastball tailing away from him that may have been ball four. And he missed. The next fastball caught much more of the plate and Dahl slashed a line drive single to left field. Iannetta scored but another close call went against the Rockies when Cuevas was ruled out at home. It looked like his foot beat the tag but again the ruling was upheld upon review.

Wade Davis came on for the second straight game after an adventurous outing that saw him (along with a few others) nearly blow a six-run lead on Friday night. There was no such theatrics in this one, getting a quick 1-2-3 inning to finish off the shutout win for Colorado, earning his 13th save of the year.

It was the Rockies fourth shutout of the season. The overall quality of pitching and aggressiveness by both offenses meant a breezy 2:28 game time for this one.

Colorado improved to 19-5, 14-8 on the road.

Final Stats:

Chad Bettis: 7 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Adam Ottavino: 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K

Wade Davis: 1 IP, S (13)

Nolan Arenado: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, HR (8)

Charlie Blackmon: 1-for-3 (.294), BB

David Dahl: 1-for-1, RBI

What’s Next:

The Rockies go for their first series sweep and season-long five game winning streak on Sunday at 11:10 Mountain Time. Kyle Freeland will face off against Noah Syndergaard.