Darvish fans 10 Rockies in shutout, as Colorado’s road woes continue

Jon Gray wasn’t up to his usual standards this season, but it didn’t matter as the Rockies’ bats went AWOL against the Padres and You Darvish in Monday’s road opener, a 7-0 loss that dropped Colorado’s major-league worst road record to 2-15.

Gray gave up seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits in only 5 2/3 innings to fall to 4-4 on the season in a disappointing start, allowing five extra-base hits — including a double to Darvish that represented only the 11th hit of his eight-year career. His two unearned runs were on him, as well — Gray also had a pair of fielding errors on the evening.

The Rockies’ hitters, however, rendered Gray’s performance moot by striking out 12 times in all without drawing a single walk and collecting a grand total of three singles by Trevor Story, Josh Fuentes and Garrett Hampson, who also hit a double for Colorado’s only extra-base hit.

There’s nowhere to go but up on Tuesday, as Austin Gomber takes the hill against San Diego’s Blake Snell… but don’t be surprised if the double-digit strikeout totals remain.

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NEXT UP: Rockies (15-27, 5th in NL West) at Padres (25-17, 2nd in NL West) | Tuesday, May 18 at 8:10 p.m. | COL: Austin Gomber (2-4, 5.49 ERA) vs. SD: Blake Snell (1-0, 4.19 ERA).

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NOTES

• Josh Fuentes was awarded the National League Player of the Week Award after hitting 11-for-22 (.500) with three doubles, two homers and 13 RBI. Fuentes is the first player since Daniel Murphy in July of 2019.

• After going 4-for-31 (.129) with 12 strikeouts in Monday’s opener in San Diego, the Rockies extended a disturbing trend. According to MLB.com, the Rockies have been outscored 27-1, hitting only 15-for-125 (.120) with 37 strikeouts in their four road openers this season. Their 2-15 road record in the worst in baseball.

• Brendan Rodgers could be with the Rockies as soon as Friday if his rehab assignment at Triple-A Albuquerque continues to go as planned. Rodgers has missed the entire season with a strained right hamstring.

• Charlie Blackmon missed Monday’s game with a sore groin. Blackmon has missed the past three games and is day-to-day.

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THE FINAL WORD

“I’m looking forward to just flushing it.” — Jon Gray, on his performance in Monday’s loss.

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STARTING LINEUP

LF Raimel Tapia
1B Connor Joe
SS Trevor Story
2B Ryan McMahon
3B Josh Fuentes
RF Yonathan Daza
CF Garrett Hampson
C Dom Nunez
SP Jon Gray

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INJURY WATCH

• Kyle Freeland (strained left shoulder) was placed on the 10-day IL on Apr. 1. He will throw his next rehab start at Triple-A Albuquerque on May 20.
• Ben Bowden (strained left shoulder) was placed one the 10-day IL on May 16.
• Brendan Rodgers (strained right hamstring) was placed on the 10-day IL on Apr. 1. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on May 14.
• 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.
• 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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