Rockies dig another big hole, but this time can’t come back in 9-5 loss

DENVER — Rockies Report, Game 111:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: For the third time this weekend against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Rockies dug themselves a hole. And for a moment Sunday, it looked like they’d climb out of it for the third successive day.

Trailing 8-1 in the sixth inning, the Rockies finally went to work.

First, Tyler Freeman led off by patiently working an eight-pitch walk from Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller. Then, three of the next 11 pitches landed over the outfield fence, as Mickey Moniak, Hunter Goodman and Jordan Beck all took Keller deep.

They became the first Rockies to hit back-to-back-to-back home runs since Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story and Ian Desmond did so against the New York Mets on June 19, 2018.

The Pirates’ seven-run lead was down to 8-5, and stirrings of a third-consecutive Rockies comeback danced in the heads of Coors Field denizens.

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BECK pic.twitter.com/8zswTxvE5J

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) August 3, 2025

But that was as far as the rally went. Carmen Mlodzinski relieved Keller and stopped the bleeding.

From there, Pittsburgh tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning and salvaged a game from the weekend series, dealing the Rox a 9-5 defeat in front of 32,394 on an 83-degree afternoon.

The remainder of the game was not without spice or chances, as the Rox had a pair of opportunities with two on in the seventh and eighth innings but could not capitalize.

Beck’s temper boiled over at the end of the seventh inning when he protested a called third strike, earning him an ejection from home-plate umpire and crew chief Alfonso Marquez.

“He said something to the umpire that you can’t say. You’re going to get ejected every time you say that to the umpire,” interim manager Warren Schaeffer said.

The loss dropped the Rox to 30-81. The team’s next defeat will formally seal their franchise-record seventh losing season in a row.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

Bradley Blalock paid dearly for his early mistakes Sunday. Two of them landed over the fence — a pair of two-run home runs by Tommy Pham and Spencer Horwitz that pinned the Rox in a 5-0 hole and ensured that this start would not be like his last.

Blalock lasted into the sixth inning before being relieved, so he was able to stabilize matters and save the bullpen further wear and tear. But it was nonetheless a rough afternoon, as he walked four, surrendered seven runs — all earned — and fell to 1-3.

“He didn’t look himself today. His stuff wasn’t as crisp. And the killer mentality with two outs; I thought it could be better,” Schaeffer said.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Pittsburgh right fielder Jack Suwinski leapt to nab Moniak’s ninth-inning line drive with Freeman on first base, which prevented a potential double that could have put the Rockies in at least a two-on, none-out situation.

NUMBER TO NOTE: 0 — Hits for Warming Bernabel on Sunday, as he cooled off with the first hitless day of his eight-game career.

WHAT’S NEXT: Tanner Gordon gets the call for the Rox as the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays soar into Coors Field for a three-game series that starts Monday night. Eric Lauer — who has found new life this season after returning to MLB following a year with the Kia Tigers the KBO — gets the call for the Jays. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. MDT.

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