Rockies climb out of NL West cellar after Story’s walk-off homer

Things haven’t been easy for Trevor Story this season. The Rockies’ shortstop, in what’s almost certainly his final season with the franchise, has been battling through trade rumors and the notion of impending free agency, while still trying to win games for Colorado.

“We have a lot of guys with a lot of talent that are gaining experience,” Story explained. “I’m here for those guys. I’m here for our team.”

He certainly was on Sunday. Story’s 438-foot walk-off homer to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning finished off a 4-3 comeback win and three-game sweep over Arizona, lifting the Rockies out of the cellar that they’ve dwelled in for most of the season, and — for the moment, at least — put the wobbling Diamondbacks into it.

Story, who had struck out in an alarming 15 of his previous 32 plate appearances prior to the Diamondbacks series, went 4-for-13 (.308) in three-game sweep elevating his batting average to .262 on the season. His .770 on-base-plus-slugging (OPS) rate ranks fifth among National League shortstops.

“Today was awesome for him,” said Jon Gray, Sunday’s effective starter. “I’ve seen him barrel up so many baseballs, with guys playing in the gaps and stealing doubles from him. It’s really good to see him get rewarded like he did today.”

Story, still thrilled by Sunday’s finish, didn’t disagree.

“Walk-offs are always special,” the shortstop said. “But to end on a sweep, that’s pretty cool.”

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NEXT UP: Rockies (18-29, 4th in NL West) at Mets (21-19, 1st in NL East) | Monday, May 24 at 5:10 p.m. | COL: Austin Gomber (2-4, 4.96 ERA) vs. NYM: David Peterson (1-3, 4.97 ERA)

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NOTES

• Kyle Freeland is back. “I’m ready,” Freeland said on Sunday. “I’m excited to get back out there.” Freeland, a 17-game winner in 2018, has only won five major-league games since, but he’ll make his season debut in New York on Tuesday. He’ll match up against Mets ace Jacob DeGrom, who will be making his return from a rehab assignment following an injury to his right side and back earlier in the month.

• Jon Gray retired the first 12 batters he faced on Sunday and had a 2-0 lead before giving up three runs in the sixth. Manager Bud Black pulled him from the game, but a Rockies comeback saved him from taking the hard-luck loss. “I thought he missed some spots in the fifth but got through it,” Black said. “In the sixth, the leadoff walk to (Arizona’s Daulton) Varsho was a red flag.”

• Joshua Fuentes had a pair of doubles in Sunday’s victory, giving him extra-base hits in seven consecutive games. That ties Fuentes for the longest streak in the majors this season with Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but Fuentes has a chance to set a new mark on Monday night against the Mets.

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THE FINAL WORD

“Walk-offs are always special, but to end on a sweep, that’s pretty cool.” — Trevor Story, who hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday

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STARTING LINEUP

LF Raimel Tapia
SS Trevor Story
RF Charlie Blackmon
1B C.J. Cron
2B Ryan McMahon
3B Joshua Fuentes
CF Yonathan Daza
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 is expected to start against the Mets on May 25.
• Ben Bowden (strained left shoulder) was placed one the 10-day IL on May 16.
• 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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