This is your Mile High Sports Report for the Colorado Rockies for the week of May 15-21.
This Week
The Rox went 2-4, falling to 19-28, remaining in last place in the NL West.
They won the series at home against Cincinnati but were swept in Texas by the Rangers including getting trounced in a game that spoiled what could have been a fun duel between Kyle Freeland and former-Rockie Jon Gray.
Kansas City and Oakland are the only two teams in MLB well behind Colorado while they sit in a virtual tie with the Reds and Nationals for the next worst.
The local club made a few notable transactions this week, calling up three players from the minor leagues in Michael Toglia, Karl Kauffmann, and Riley Pint.
Toglia has three hits and seven strikeouts in six games, hoping he can make a bit more contact to prove himself while C.J. Cron is on the IL. Both Kauffmann and Pint made their MLB debuts this week but neither went especially well with Pint recording just one out against five hitters before being sent back down and Kaufman hanging in before getting knocked around by Texas to the tune of 4.1 IP and 4 earned runs.
Catcher Elias Díaz ranks third in the Majors with a .326 batting average and fifth in the Majors with a .436 batting average (17-for-39) with runners in scoring position. He has appeared in 39 games at catcher, tied for the most in the Majors. His 10 catcher caught stealing are tied for second in the Majors, while his 44.0 caught stealing percentage ranks second (min. 20 games).
History in The Making
On Monday, Brenton Doyle hit two home runs, his third and fourth of the season and his career, while going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a double and 3 RBI.
He became the fourth Rockie ever to hit two home runs from the ninth spot in the order and his 10 total bases and three extra-base hits are the most in franchise history from the ninth spot. His 10 total bases are tied for fourth-most by a Rockies rookie in team history and most since Ben Paulsen’s 12 on July 26, 2015, vs. Cincinnati.
Charlie Blackmon was hit by a pitch this week and that’s actually good news because it gives him the franchise record of 99. Larry Walker was plunked 98 times.
Blackmon also moved into a tied with walker with his 297th double of his career. One more and he gains sole possession of second place at which point he would be only 294 away from catching Todd Helton for first place.
This Week in Rockies History
May 19 2009: Todd Helton became the first player in franchise history to record 2,000 hits with a single off Atlanta Braves pitcher Jair Jurrjens who would later spend a brief time with the Rockies. Helton finished his career with 2,519 career hits and a .316 career batting average.
May 20, 2001: The Rockies beat the Florida Marlins 7-2 in Florida. Larry Walker and Todd Helton hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the first inning, the second of eight times the Hall of Famer and future Hall of Famer went back-to-back.
Over the course of two games from May 21-22, 1996, Hall of Famer Larry Walker recorded a franchise record six-straight extra-base hits. He went 4-for-5 with two home runs, one triple and one double on May 21 before starting the May 22 game with a double and a triple.
On May 22, the 2007 Rockies were 19-27. They went on to win the National League.
Thank you to the Rockies Communications department for putting together daily notes and information where much of this research comes from. For everything Colorado sports make sure you’re following Mile High Sports and see you next week.
