The Colorado Rockies’ starting pitchers went 4.0, 5.0 and 4.0 innings respectively, dropping all three games of a road series with the St. Louis Cardinals. The sweep culminated with a 10-5 loss on Wednesday night. Colorado dropped to 27-26 on the road with the loss.
Jeff Hoffman (6-3, 5.58 ERA) needed 88 pitches to get through 4.0 innings against the Cardinals. The rookie right-hander allowed seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and three walks. He surrendered a first-inning two-run home run to Paul DeJong, then five runs in a rocky fourth inning amplified by a Charlie Blackmon throwing error. Jordan Lyles allowed two runs on two hits and two walks over two innings. Tyler Chatwood, returning from the 10-day DL with a calf strain, allowed one run on one hit. Chatwood’s control issues continued as he threw two wild pitches and walked two. Adam Ottavino allowed two hits and a walk, but avoided any markers in the eighth inning.
The top six hitters in the Colorado lineup produced five runs on nine hits, including multi-hit games from Blackmon, Nolan Arenado and Gerardo Parra. Arenado gave the Rockies an early lead, hitting his 23rd home run and driving 87th and 88th RBIs on the year. He added to his MLB-best total with No. 89 on a single in the fifth inning. Parra had Colorado’s two other RBIs with a double in the third.
Colorado has a day off on Thursday before continuing their road trip in Washington. On their way to the nation’s capitol they’ll pick up All-Star Pat Neshek from Philadelphia. The Rockies traded for the right-hander on Wednesday night, giving up three minor-league players.
