Gonzalez’s start wasted as Rockies shut out, swept in San Diego

Starting pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez was the first Rockies batter to reach base, and the only one to have an extra-base hit. It was that kind of day in San Diego, where Colorado was swept by the Padres 3-0 on Wednesday, as the hapless Rockies lost their fifth straight game and fell to 2-17 on the road.

None of this was Gonzalez’s fault, mind you; the 29-year-old Florida native gave up two solo home runs — one to Fernando Tatis Jr. and one of the inside-the-park variety to Jake Cronenworth when his drive to right ricocheted off the wall and away from Rockies right fielder Charlie Blackmon — and that was it; Gonzalez’s six solid innings of work put the Rockies in a position to win.

Gonzalez’s third-inning double and Trevor Story’s seventh-inning single marked not only the Rockies’ only two hits, but baserunners, as the team struck out 14 times without drawing a single walk.

To his credit, Gonzalez was nonchalant, if overly optimistic, after the game, despite the fact that his offense did literally nothing whatsoever to help him in his six innings on the mound. “I think you’ve just got to step back and tell guys they belong in the big leagues. They’re all stars. They play well. Things will come around. We’re pitching the ball great now. Once we get a game that we pitch well, we hit well, things will go back to where they were.”

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NEXT UP: Rockies (15-29, 5th in NL West) vs. Diamondbacks (18-26, 4th in NL West) | Friday, May 21 at 6:40 p.m. | COL: German Marquez (2-4, 5.56 ERA) vs. ARZ: Riley Smith (1-3, 6.83 ERA)

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NOTES

• While being swept by the Padres in their three-game series, the Rockies were outscored 12-1 and went 12-for-96 (.125) with four walks and 44 strikeouts — meaning that, as a team, the Rockies struck out in fully 44 percent of their plate appearances in the series. “They have a good pitching staff,” manager Bud Black said.

• The Rockies are on an eight-game losing streak in San Diego’s Petco Park. Colorado hasn’t won there since Sept. 6, 2019.

• Brendan Rodgers’ rehab assignment at triple-A Albuquerque is going well. Rodgers has gone 7-for-15 (.467) with two doubles and three RBI in five games. He could be activated at any point.

• Rockies catchers Dom Nunez and Elias Diaz combined to go 0-for-9 with seven strikeouts in the just-completed series.

• Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove struck out 11 Rockies in his 93 pitches over seven innings — striking out a Colorado batter every 8.5 pitches.

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THE FINAL WORD

“There’s some frustration. Guys are, for lack of a better term, a little pissed off.” — Manager Bud Black.

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STARTING LINEUP

LF Raimel Tapia
SS Trevor Story
RF Charlie Blackmon
1B C.J. Cron
2B Ryan McMahon
3B Josh Fuentes
CF Garrett Hampson
C Dom Nunez
SP Chi Chi Gonzalez

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INJURY WATCH

• Carlos Estevez (strained right middle finger) was placed on the 10-day IL on May 3, retroactive to April 30. He is expected to pitch on May. 20 in Triple-A Albuquerque.
• 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.
• 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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