Tyler Chatwood hurls second best pitching performance in Rockies history

Colorado Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood had the second longest perfect game bid in franchise history en route to a complete game shutout. In the 5-0 Rockies win over the Giants, Chatwood threw 105 pitches in his nine innings pitched with four strikeouts, one walk and just two hits. He induced an insane 17 groundouts in the contest. His line was good for a Game Score of 92, which is second best in the history of the club.

Chatwood, 27, had the best road ERA in MLB last season and coming into Saturday he had a slick 2.12 ERA in six starts with a 3-1 record at the pitcher-fiendly AT&T Park.

The righty’s career high for innings thrown in a contest was eight innings which he had done five times in his career, four with the Rockies, the last of which was Sept., 28, of last year in San Francisco. In that start against the Giants he threw 102 pitches in eight innings, allowing just three hits, no earned runs while walking two and setting nine down on strikeouts.

Chatwood has had some struggles to start 2017, losing both his starts and allowing eight earned runs in 11-and-a-third innings of work. But today was different, he was extremely efficient and kept the ball very low in the zone.

His complete game shutout was No. 31 in club history, the last was thrown by Jon Gray on Sept., 17 of last year against the Padres. Only seven of the 31 have had two or fewer hits, and it’s the 22nd two-hitter in franchise history.

“One of the best pitched games I’ve seen in a while. Just from a pure pitching standpoint,” Bud Black told ROOT Sports following the game.

Chatwood’s perfect game was broken up by Chris Marrero in the sixth, he allowed his only other hit in the seventh, both were weakly hit balls.

Most importantly Chatwood gave the most worked bullpen in baseball to this point, Colorado’s, a day off. It’s also key to note that this is the Rockies eighth win, they are guaranteed to be above .500 by Monday’s off day, meaning they will finish a 14 game in 14 day stretch without some key pieces with a winning record.