Youth on display as one game makes world of difference for Brendan Rodgers and Elehuris Montero

The three-game sweep against the Cincinnati Reds was precisely the medicine the Colorado Rockies needed to cleanse the taste of Philly from their palates.

Everyone contributed in some fashion to the course correction following four consecutive losses to close out the previous road trip.

The starting pitching was on point the entire weekend, producing better-than quality starts from Antonio Senzatela (6.1 IP, 1 ER), Chad Kuhl (7.1 IP, 3 ER) and Kyle Freeland (7 IP, 1 ER).

More importantly, the offense rebounded from scoring just nine runs in four games against the Phillies to scoring more than nine in two individual games against the Redlegs. The +16 run differential (24 runs scored, 8 runs allowed) was only the third such lopsided performance over three consecutive contests since 2018.

Defensively, the Rockies were also quite sharp. Following seven errors at Citizens Bank Park, there were none against Cincy at Coors Field.

Even the bullpen was able to celebrate in their success. Minus a tough ninth-inning for Ashton Goudeau on Friday night, six different relievers combined to throw 5.1 scoreless frames.

Montero’s unbelievable promotion

Before his MLB debut and base hit in his first at-bat as a big leaguer, Elehuris Montero didn’t actually believe his day had come.

“I woke up around 11 or something like that,” the 23-year-old said through an interpreter, teammate Carlos Estévez. “I was still kind of waking up and got the call right away. I didn’t believe it.”

Nothing was lost in translation there. Montero quite literally didn’t think the phone call was real. 

He went to Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque to get ready for that night’s game against the San Francisco Giants’ top affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats.

Coaches, teammates and staff confirmed that he was legitimately going to The Show. 

The corner infield called his parents and they were ecstatic. A few tears were shed, especially by his father.

“My father played professional baseball,” shared the Dominican Republic native. “He knows the emotion. He knows what it is to make it to the next level. It was a really good moment for him.”

Francisco Montero pitched in the minor leagues with the Phillies from 1996-2000. Though he never made it past High-A Clearwater, his son has made it to the top of the ladder. 

Although the date May 1, 2022 will go down as his debut, it very easily could have happened two days prior.

Montero arrived halfway through the game on Friday night. At one point, Colorado held a commanding 10-1 lead to the team with the worst record in baseball.

That’s usually a good time for load management, but most of the starters stayed in the game, presumably to keep the momentum flowing after the previous four results.

Montero tried his darnedest to get in the game, doing just about everything to grab the attention of manager Bud Black. 

“I put my batting gloves on. I was holding my bat just waiting to see if I was gonna get in,” he said whilst laughing. “I was getting ready. Didn’t work though.”

B-Rod be busting slumps

Starting the season batting 4-for-51 (.078), including a streak of 17 consecutive at-bats without a base hit, is never good. 

But for a player with only one full-season under his belt who’s still looking to establish himself, it can be particularly hard. Coincidentally, it wasn’t the first time he’s experienced such challenges.

“Not like it was before the first 150 at-bats when I started before I hit a homer,” Rodgers said of this rough stretch. “But not hitting and not contributing, in my eyes, is not a great feeling. Today, getting back on track, felt great.”

Before the second inning had ended on Sunday, Rodgers had two run-scoring hits, including a bases clearing double that electrified his teammates in the dugout.

“I believe in myself, first and foremost, but having my teammates be there through everything is huge. And them believing in me is also a great feeling,” he shared with a relieved smirk on his face.

A back injury held out the 25-year-old from four-straight games before getting the start against Reds’ rookie Reiver SanMartin. Perhaps those ailments existed throughout the slump, but Rodgers isn’t going to make excuses.

“Could have been a whole bunch of things,” he confessed. “I don’t think it was my back. A little bit in my head, trying to do too much, trying to hit two homers in one at bat. Things like that.”

For all his struggles at the plate, Rodgers is not bringing those troubles out into the field. 

He’s yet to make an error and his 3 defensive runs saved, according to The Fielding Bible, is tops on the club. 

Despite that defensive success, April is in the rear view, forever.

“I won’t ever think about this month again for a long time.”