It wasn’t a sure thing this game would be played to conclusion as the rain fell hard during Bark at the Park night. However, the Colorado Rockies and the Texas Rangers played a full nine innings of soggy baseball with plenty of slips, slides, and runs scored.
“I love it,” said TJ Rumfield of the conditions. “Anything that makes the [opposing] pitcher uncomfortable.”
Nearly-Quality Quintana
Left-handed veteran José Quintana wasn’t flashy, but got the job done on a wet night in Denver. He pitched 5.2 innings while giving up
three earned runs—just the third time he’s given up more than two earned runs this season—on seven hits. Quintana’s control was strong despite a slick baseball. He walked just one Rangers hitter while striking out four, which is the second-most he’s recorded this season.
Quintana wasn’t without help, however. Incredibly solid defense from the Rockies despite the wet conditions helped him on multiple occasions. You had Rumfield corralling the ball as he fell into the first base dugout, multiple slick plays by Ezequiel Tovar, and a sliding catch in the outfield by Jake McCarthy.
His toughest inning was the top of the fifth. After giving up a solo home run to Justin Foscue, Quintana loaded the bases with two outs via back-to-back singles and a walk. A ground ball fielded by Tovar got him out of the inning. Quintana then looked like he could make it through six innings for just the second time this season—and net the Rockies a rare Quality Start—but after giving up a single and a double with two outs and an elevated pitch count he was relieved by Jaden Hill. Hill finished the inning on the aforementioned McCarthy catch.
Too close for comfort
After Hill pitched 1.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts, Victor Vodnik entered the game for the eighth inning. Vodnik has been struggling this season, entering today’s game with a 6.50 ERA in 17 appearances. His struggles continued tonight as he issued a double and two walks without recording an out to load the bases. Vodnik was pulled for lefty Brennan Bernardino.
Bernardino gave up a two run single as soon as he entered the game, and a third run would score when Kyle Karros fielded a grounder and decided to throw to first instead of home while attempting to turn a double play. Bernardino would eventually navigate out of the inning, but all three runs scored would be charged to Vodnik. Vodnik now has an ERA of 8.00 this season.
Juan Mejia closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning, giving up one hit and striking out one batter for his third save of the season.
Rain falls, runs score
The Rockies had a relatively complete offensive performance against the Rangers, scoring seven runs (five earned) on seven hits. They struck out just six times while drawing four walks.
They cracked things open early in the first inning with a Willi Castro double and back-to-back walks drawn by Brenton Doyle and Rumfield to load the bases with no outs against starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore. Tovar, finally showing signs of emerging from his slump, plated two runs with a double of his own deep to left field. McCarthy re-loaded the bases with a swinging bunt single, but the Rockies were unable to further capitalize on the opportunity.
With slick conditions in the rain, the Rockies were able to plate another two runs in the third inning thanks to two errors by the Rangers’ infield defense. Hunter Goodman reached via error and Tovar drew a walk on an ABS challenge. A fielding error by third baseman Josh Jung allowed both Goodman and Tovar to score, though Karros—who hit the ball—was thrown out between first and second to end the inning.
The Rockies scored another two runs in the fourth with some small ball. Sterlin Thompson recorded his first big league hit, though was out after Braxton Fulford grounded into a forceout. However, Fulford then stole second and scored on a Doyle single. Doyle then stole second himself and scored on a Rumfield single.
Fulford, who was called up today to replace an injured Jordan Beck on the roster, drew a walk in the sixth inning and once again stole second base. He was driven home on Castro’s second double of the evening.
Up Next
There’s more rain in the forecast as the Rockies are slated for their second game against the rangers tomorrow night. Right-handed former top prospect Kumar Rocker is the scheduled starter for the Rangers, while the Rockies have yet to announce their own. First pitch is set for 6:40 PM MDT.
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