The 2026 Colorado Rockies have struggled, among other things, to win rubber matches. They are 6-14 when trying to win a series this year, but 3-1 in their last four, which suggested improvement and possibility.
Today’s match against the Seattle Mariners, however, left the Rockies 6-15 in rubber matches as the visiting team managed a 2-1 win, despite a late-game threat from the Rockies. Outfielder Dominic Calzone scored both of the Mariners runs.
With the loss, the Rockies fall to 57-99 while the Mariners
are 73-83 with their playoff hopes living to see another day.
The offense went (mostly) cold on a warm fall day
The Rockies offense struggled to figure out Mariners starter Kade Anderson, and it did not find its footing in a low-scoring game until the ninth inning. by then it was too late.
Although it seems impossible given the Rockies recent history, neither team scored in the first inning.
The Mariners remained hitless after the top of the second while the Rockies tallied two hits, one from Cole Carrigg followed by another from Adael Amador. However, the Rockies were unable capitalize after a terrific play from Mariners third baseman Brock Rodden that ended the inning.
After that, though, Mariners starter Kade Anderson settled in and struck out the side in the third.
In the fourth inning, the Mariners got on the board when Tomoyuki Sugano walked Randy Arozarena and allowed an RBI single to Dominic Calzone that scored Arozarena.
Fun fact: With his 106th run, Arozarena now leads the American League.
Sugano followed that by walking Cal Raleigh, but a Julio Rodríguez grounder fed into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Still, the Mariners had a 1-0 lead.
As for the Rockies, they did not have an answer for Kade Anderson, who retired 10 consecutive batters. After his four-seamer, Anderson relied on his changeup and curveball, downplaying his slider to downplay the effects of elevation on the pitch.
Ryan Feltner entered the game in the sixth, taking over for Sugano. Given his last two outings that found him in a piggyback role, the question was whether he could repeat those performances with an eye toward a permanent move to the bullpen.
JB Crawford hit a single and was brought home by Calzone, who was responsible for both of the Mariners runs as they extended to their lead to 2-0.
In the Rockies half of the sixth inning, Jake McCarthy notched a triple, his 13, and also extended his on-base streak to 22 games.
With two more triples, McCarthy will tie Dexter Fowler’s record for most triples by a Rockie.
However, Norby and Hunter Goodman followed McCarthy’s triple with two Ks, and the score remained 2-0 Seattle.
In the seventh inning, Julio Rodríguez hit a lead-off single; however, Feltner kept him from scoring.
Kade Anderson left after the seventh inning and a terrific outing. He finished the day with 7.0 IP, allowing no runs on three hits. He did not issue a walk, struck out seven, and had 14 whiffs on 84 pitches.
“He pitched well. That was impressive,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said after the game.
In the eighth inning, Schaeffer sent in Troy Johnston to bat for Jordan Beck and face Seranthony Domínguez. Johnston hit a single, but the Rockies were unable to capitalize, and the score remained 2-0 Mariners.
Jimmy Herget pitched the ninth. Although it looked like he had perhaps given up a home run Cal Raleigh, the ball went foul. Despite some traffic on the base paths (that included a Josh Naylor caught-stealing), Herget did not allow a run.
For the ninth inning, Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz entered the game.
After Norby flew out, Hunter Goodman launched his 39th homer of the season.
Suddenly, the Rockies were down by just one run.
Rumfield stepped the plate and, echoing the certainty of death and taxes, took a walk.
However, Muñox left with an apparently leg injury. Eduard Bazardo entered the game in his place with Zac Veen coming in to run for Rumfield.
Carrigg struck out, and the Rockies were down to their final out.
As Amador stood at the plate, Veen swiped second. Then, Rockies second baseman walked, and it was catcher Brett Sullivan’s turn.
He struck out to end the threat, and the Mariners won the game and the series.
Their final line was one run (earned) on five hits. They walked twice and struck out 10 times. The Rockies were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, and they left six runners on base.
In addition, the Rockies now have 25 one-run losses.
“They bring it every day. Today, obviously not enough,” Schaeffer said.
Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之) had another solid outing
It was another day at the office for Sugano.
He was outstanding through the first three innings when he did not allow a walk and struck out four on 35 pitches. The Mariners finally had their first baserunner in the fourth when Randy Arozarena walked and only managed one run on his watch.
As for final numbers, Sugano logged 5.0 IP including one run (earned) on one hit. He walked two and struck out five on 72 pitches.
“I thought it was a nice bounce-back game for Sugano,” Schaeffer said. “He was efficient.”
After the game, Sugano commented that he felt like he pitched well. He said he wanted to go longer and that he was a surprised to leave so early in the game.
“Minimum, I thought I could have gone seven,” he said.
The bullpen kept the Rockies in the game
It was another solid outing from an exhausted Rockies bullpen.
Although Ryan Feltner was less sparkling that he’d been in his two previous outings out of the bullpen, he kept the Rockies in the game. His final line was 3.0 IP with one run (earned) on two hits. He walked one and struck out one on 61 pitches.
”It’s something different for him. It’s a different feel,“ Schaeffer said of Feltner coming in from the bullpen, noting that he’s learning a new job.
The ninth inning went to Jimmy Herget, whose final line was 1.0 IP, one hit, no runs, and no strikeouts.
Up next
The Rockies have an off day before welcoming the Arizona Diamondbacks to Coors Field on Tuesday.
First pitch is at 6:40 with Kyle Freeland in what may be his last Coors Field start as a Rockie. He will face a yet-to-be-named pitcher.
And that’s it for me in terms of 2026 game coverage. Thanks, everyone, for following along!
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