ESPN’s Gomez: Bud Black steadies Rockies ship during poor stretches

With a 5-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Monday night, the Colorado Rockies have strung together a pair of wins for the first time since the opening two games of the season.

On Tuesday, ESPN’s Pedro Gomez told “Schlereth and Evans” that while by no means are the Rockies out of their early-season rut — sitting at the bottom of the National League West at 5-12 — but “boy you’ve got to feel better.”

“Nolan Arenado has homered two straight games, which you need. Ian Desmond has a huge game last night,” Gomez said.

And Gomez credits Rockies skipper Bud Black with maintaining a veteran, calming presence despite the club’s early struggles.

“This is why you pay a manager. This is why you want a veteran manager,” Gomez said. “You want someone to steady the ship when things are going poorly. And that’s one of Bud Black’s biggest strengths.”

Gomez said that, especially when Rockies players voiced their frustrations over the weekend after losing an eighth straight game, Black’s experience has shined through for the club.

“You want someone who has been through there before, both as a player and as a manager. Bud Black knows you cannot just toss everything into the waste can and say, let’s start over right now,” Gomez said. “And that’s …. one of his strengths. He just continues.

“The players were frustrated, and that’s why they were saying those types of things. There’s no doubt.”

Colorado has a shot Tuesday night to win its first series of the 2019 season as they take on the Padres in San Diego before returning home on Thursday for a four-game set with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.