The offensive pendulum that gave the Rockies a 7-0 lead on Monday en route to an 8-7 victory swung fully in the Texas Rangers’ direction on Tuesday as Colorado was shut out 9-0 and allowed Shin-Soo Choo, and nearly Delino DeShields, to hit for the cycle.
Choo led off the top of the ninth needing a triple to complete the cycle and sent a 1-1 fastball from Rex Brothers over the head of Charlie Blackmon and off the centerfield wall. Choo went sliding headfirst into third base as the relay throw came in late, securing the eighth cycle in Rangers history.
DeShields came to the plate one out later, a home run shy of the cycle, with a chance to make baseball history. Never have two teammates hit for the cycle in the same game. Coincidentally, that was also the same number of times DeShields has homered in his Major League career. Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt surrendered a 2-0 count to DeShields, but followed with three consecutive strikes, the last swinging, to pull the plug on a potentially historic night.
The moment was one of the few in the game that went in the Rockies favor. Starter Kyle Kendrick allowed six runs, five earned, and could not escape the fifth inning in his 11th loss on the season. The loss ties Kendrick with Aaron Harang for the most in baseball.
Colorado’s bats were equally as woeful last night, leaving seven men on base and grounding into four double plays. The Rockies were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and could not muster a run against Matt Harrison (six innings pitched, seven hits, two strikeouts, one walk) and three Rangers relievers.
Brothers, who was recalled for the first time this season during the Atlanta series, struggled in just his third appearance of the year, allowing four hits and two runs in 1.1 innings, including the cycle-sealing triple to Choo.
Colorado will try go for their fourth of five home series wins Wednesday in the rubber match with Texas. Jorge De La Rosa (6-4) faces Martin Perez (0-1). First pitch is 1:10 p.m. MDT from Coors Field.
