Rockies lose ninth-straight at home, conclude 0-6 homestand

DENVER — Rockies Report, Game 130:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: The warm feelings that surrounded the unveiling of Larry Walker’s statue by the home-plate entrance to Coors Field evaporated in the first 27 pitches Sunday afternoon — which was how many pitches it took for starter Tomoyuki Sugano to record the game’s first out.

By that time, two Cleveland runs were already across the plate. The Guardians would add another run on an Angel Martínez RBI single by the end of the inning, led 5-0 midway through the second inning and once they withstood the Rockies themselves taxing Cleveland starter Foster Griffin for 47 second-inning pitches, they were on their way to a 7-2 win in front of 28,835 at Coors fielded on Sunday afternoon.

How about that drive in?#GuardsBall | #PlayersWeekend pic.twitter.com/kVPJ7qGpFJ

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 23, 2026

Driving up the pitch count and fouling off one offering after another, the Guardians made Sugano throw 44 pitches just to get out of the first inning. The first time through the order, Cleveland averaged six pitches per plate appearance.

Sugano whittled that pace down to 4.2 pitches per batter his second time through the order, but by the time he got through a shutout third inning — his only inning without allowing a run of the day — he’d thrown 92 pitches and the Rockies had to go into their bullpen.

Five relievers limited the Guardians to two runs on three hits over the final six innings, including Jimmy Herget tossing two scoreless innings despite being stung by a bee in the top of the sixth inning.

“It was a bee sting right on his elbow. Unbelievable. Right there on the UCL,” Rockies manager Schaeffer said, adding that Herget would be fine.

Colorado’s only two runs came via a Brett Sullivan RBI double and Sunday callup Ryan Ritter’s RBI groundout. After that, Ezequiel Tovar and Jake McCarthy walked to load the bases, but Cole Carrigg lost an 11-pitch battle against Griffin, popping out to second to end the threat.

The Rockies had just three singles and no walks after their third-inning opportunity.

Colorado fell to 50-80, losing its ninth-consecutive game at Coors Field. They’ve been swept three consecutive times at home — by the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 3-5 and this past week by the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

Home runs weren’t the problem for Sugano this time. It was a patient, disciplined lineup that drove up his pitch count in a hurry.

“I thought — similar to the last outing a little bit, in terms of behind in counts early,” Schaeffer said. “I think you combine that with how that team takes at-bats and you compound behind in counts, good takes, foul balls — tons of foul balls today,”

“Tomo’s been so good for us. He just didn’t have it today. Didn’t feel it.”

The brevity of Sugano’s start came at an unfortunate time for the Rockies, as they are three games into a stretch of 13 consecutive contests without an off-day. His ERA has risen from 4.43 to 4.96 over his last two starts.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: The Guardians tacked on a seventh run via an eighth-inning sacrifice fly.

NUMBER TO NOTE: 12.38 — Sugano’s ERA over the last two starts.

WHAT’S NEXT: A seven-game East Coast road trip, starting with four games at Nationals Park against Washington. Cade Cavalli starts for Washington; Ryan Feltner goes for the Rox. First pitch is set for 4:45 p.m. MDT.

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