Rockies absorb sweep as Rays deal them shutout loss

Rockies Report, Game 115:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: The Rox could get nothing started against Rays All-Star starter Nick Martinez and the Tampa Bay bullpen, mustering just six hits and ensuring that the 1-0 lead the Rays established in just six pitches would be enough in what would be a 4-0 win at Coors Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Colorado was able to advance a baserunner to at least second base in the second, third, fourth and sixth innings, but couldn’t finish the job. Three leadoff batters reached base, but that, too, was not something the Rox could convert into runs.

Martinez didn’t issue any walks to the Rockies, who struck out four times against him and six more times against the Rays bullpen. This was the Rockies’ fifth shutout of the season; three have come in series finales, including the most-recent blanking prior to this, an 8-0 defeat to Washington on July 22.

Colorado dropped to 45-70 and ended up with a 3-3 homestand split.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

The Rox ended up getting five-plus innings and 85 pitches out of starter Tomoyuki Sugano. He allowed a solo homer to Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, which is typical for Sugano, but the Rays’ 2-0 first-inning lead transpired when he allowed a triple, an RBI single and a walk to the first three batters he faced, with a one-out single from Chandler Simpson bringing home Tampa Bay’s second run.

Sugano settled in and retired nine-consecutive Rays after Caminero’s third-inning home run, ensuring that the Rox stayed in the game, but the two walks Sugano allowed — including one in the sixth inning, after which he was lifted — matched the total of free passes he gave up in his previous five starts.

Mile High MASH 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/jpMbedjU68

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 5, 2026

Sugano fell to 11-5.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: TJ Rumfield struck out with runners on the corners in the sixth, ending the Rockies’ last significant threat of the day.

NUMBER TO NOTE: 1 — Win total for Colorado in its last eight series finales.

WHAT’S NEXT: An off-day before a nine-game road trip begins in St. Louis on Friday night. Ryan Feltner and right-hander Kyle Leahy get the assignments for the series opener, with a first pitch scheduled for 6:15 p.m. MDT on Friday at Busch Stadium.

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