Rockies split doubleheader with Padres in error-fueled day

On Wednesday afternoon, the Rockies saw their losing streak balloon to five games. On Wednesday night, they ended it.

Facing a COVID-riddled Padres team that was missing Fernando Tatis Jr., Eric Hosmer, Will Myers, Jurickson Profar and Jorge Mateo due to either positive test for contact tracing protocols, the Rockies finally broke through in the abbreviated, seven-inning nightcap.

In the opener, Rockies starter Jon Gray was solid enough, striking out six Padres in his 5 2/3 innings, but when he faced pinch-hitter Patrick Kivlehan with an 0-2 count — and then walked him to load the bases — manager Bud Black decided to act, calling for reliever Robert Stephenson. That was a mistake. Three pitches later, catcher Victor Caratini hit a grand slam that saddled Gray with his third loss of the season.

“I don’t know if maybe I lost my tempo, or I didn’t feel as in tune as the rest of the game,” Gray said. “So maybe the coaches thought of that and made a decision. I still think I could have gotten them out, but you never know.”

Only one of Gray’s runs allowed was earned, thanks to an Alan Trejo fielding error, but the Rockies had a chance to get away with it. With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Colorado had a chance to tie or even win the game, but pinch-hitter Elias Diaz’s blooper into right was caught by Austin Nola, a catcher pressed into playing second due to the Padres’ health woes.

The second game went better in the end, but for a time, it looked like it would end in disaster. Austin Gomber had pitched an excellent 5 1/3 innings for the Rockies, striking out six and allowing one unearned run on four hits. First baseman Connor Joe had a pair of errors, while right fielder Charlie Blackmon had one of his own — like in the first game, the error were costly.

In the top of the seventh, Daniel Bard blew his third save of the season, allowing the Padres to tie that game, but Josh Fuentes — who had hit a two-run homer earlier in the game — accounted for all the Rockies’ scoring when he knocked Blackmon in to earn the win, and break the Rockies’ five-game losing streak prior to a four-game series with the visiting Cincinnati Reds that starts on Thursday.

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NEXT UP: Rockies (13-24, 5th in NL West) vs. Reds (17-17, 3rd in NL West) | Thursday, May 13 at 6:40 p.m. | COL: Chi Chi Gonzalez (1-1, 5.97 ERA) vs. CIN: Luis Castillo (1-4, 6.42 ERA).

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NOTES

• Josh Fuentes’ big night Wednesday came after a poor series against St. Louis, where Fuentes admitted to pressing in front of his cousin, Nolan Arenado. “I definitely got caught up in trying to do really well, especially in front of my family and in front of Nolan,” Fuentes explained. “I wanted to rake in front of him. It was clear that I was pressing. I’ve been doing that the past couple of weeks. But you can definitely say Nolan got me a little too fired up.” Fuentes went 1-for-10 in that series with an error, but he got right in Wednesday’s nightcap, going 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and the game-winning RBI single in extra innings.

• The Rockies had gone six consecutive games without a home run until Fuentes’ two-run blast in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader.

• Once a team that prided itself on defense when players like Nolan Arenado and D.J. LeMahieu were still in town, Colorado’s four errors on Wednesday got them to 27 in 37 games this season, third-worst in all of baseball. The Rockies’ .979 fielding percentage is tied for the fourth-worst in the majors with the Chicago White Sox.

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THE FINAL WORD

“It feels really good knowing I came up with a plan, and had an approach — and to get rewarded.” — Josh Fuentes, on his three-RBI night Wednesday.

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STARTING LINEUPS

GAME 1
LF Raimel Tapia
CF Garrett Hampson
RF Charlie Blackmon
SS Trevor Story
3B Ryan McMahon
1B Matt Adams
C Dom Nunez
2B Alan Trejo
SP Jon Gray

GAME 2
LF Raimel Tapia
1B Connor Joe
SS Trevor Story
RF Charlie Blackmon
2B Ryan McMahon
CF Yonathan Daza
3B Josh Fuentes
C Elias Diaz
SP Austin Gomber

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INJURY WATCH

• Kyle Freeland (strained left shoulder) was placed on the 10-day IL on Apr. 1. He has been throwing bullpen sessions and is expected back in May. Freeland will start for Triple-A Albuquerque on May 15.
• C.J. Cron (strained lower back) was placed on the 10-day IL on May 10, retroactive to May 7.
• Carlos Estevez (strained right middle finger) was placed on the 10-day IL on May 3, retroactive to April 30.
• Brendan Rodgers (strained right hamstring) was placed on the 10-day IL on Apr. 1. He has been practicing and could potentially return in early May.
• Chris Owings (left thumb surgery) was placed on the 60-day IL in mid-April and will likely be out until the All-Star break.
• Scott Oberg (blood clots) had surgery prior to the end of Spring Training. He was placed on the 60-day IL on Mar. 27 and his season is in doubt.

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Shawn Drotar is the host of “The Fan Late Night with Shawn Drotar;” weeknights from 10:00 p.m. to midnight — only on 104.3 The Fan

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