Rockies’ disastrous season reaches new low in 21-0 debacle

DENVER — Rockies Report, Game 39:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: Never say, “It can’t get worse” with the 2025 Colorado Rockies.

It always can.

The new low — and what one certainly hopes remains the nadir for this team — was reached Saturday night in front of 38,423 witnesses at Coors Field who saw the bottom drop out in a 21-0 fiasco at the hands of the San Diego Padres.

It was not only the most lopsided shutout loss in franchise history, but just the seventh time in the modern era that a team has absorbed a shutout loss allowing at least 20 runs.

Never were the Rockies in it.

San Diego put five runs on the board before Colorado came to bat.

The only scoring threat came in the fifth inning, just after San Diego added three more runs to push its tally to 19. Nick Martini recorded his second hit of the night — a double and sat at this base after advancing on a groundout.

Adael Amador had a chance to bring him home with a base hit, but struck out to end the frame. A few boos rattled through the stands at that moment.

The discontent became louder in the top of the sixth when yet another infield dribbler resulted in a single as Michael Toglia fielded Jackson Merrill’s ground ball and couldn’t get back to the bag; five pitches later, Tyler Wade laced a single to right field, bringing home San Diego’s 20th run.

Some of those who remained at the end of the disaster serenaded the home team with a few boos, but that noise quickly petered out, as apathy continues to consume a fan base battered by the unremitting tsunami of woe.

Colorado is now 6-33, joining the 1988 Baltimore Orioles with the worst 39-game start in the modern era.

“The ability to move past a game like that, guys are able to do it,” manager Bud Black said. “But in the moment, it’s hard. It’s really hard. Because guys care and they want to perform. And they want to do their part to get you out of this.

“And then when it doesn’t happen … they feel as though they’ve let the team down. And the care factor’s high, because they care.”

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

Bradley Blalock appeared headed in the right direction after a solid performance last Saturday at San Francisco, but it came flying apart in a hurry as he walked two of the first three batters he faced, yielded a pair of singles, threw a wild pitch, saw a run come home on a ground out and then threw a fastball in the heart of the strike zone that Gavin Sheets crushed 439 feet into the second level of the right-field stands.

Five runs on the board in the first inning. It got no better from there. He failed to record a clean inning before being relieved in the fourth inning, 12 earned runs, 13 hits and three home runs to his name.

Blalock had to remain on the mound and take the punishment because the Rockies’ bullpen options were limited after the rough games of recent days — including Thursday’s doubleheader. He lasted 87 pitches.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: They took the field. But in all seriousness, when the Rox couldn’t respond to San Diego’s game-opening outburst with a rally of their own in the bottom of the first against Stephen Kolek, the die was cast.

THE UNEXPECTED HERO: With the game completely out of hand, Bud Black inserted catcher Jacob Stallings to pitch the final two innings to preserve the bullpen.

Utilizing an arsenal that included eephus curveballs that touched 39 and 41 miles per hour, Stallings retired the first two batters he faced before Jake Cronenworth lined a single to center field and Gavin Sheets cranked out an RBI double to the right-center field wall. A groundout ended the frame.

Stallings’ ninth inning was the stuff of legend, at least as far as catchers-turned-pitchers goes. He caught ex-Rockies catcher Elias Díaz looking for the first out, then induced a groundout from Brandon Lockridge before getting Luis Arraez to pop out on an eephus pitch for the 1-2-3 inning.

“I just personally try to have fun with it,” Stallings said.


ROCKIES NUMBER TO NOTE: 55 — Runs allowed in the last four games, shattering the previous record of 50 set from April 8-11, 1998. Colorado surrendered 13 one night earlier and 21 in a doubleheader Thursday.

WHAT’S NEXT: Germán Márquez tries to put his season back together in a getaway-day series finale. Colorado is 3-0 in the final games of homestands this year and 3-33 in all other games, so this is the only scenario the Rox have figured out in this otherwise fruitless season. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. MDT.

Related

Rockies’ early lead vanishes as Guardians pull away for routFreeland leaves due to neck tightness as Rockies fall in extra inningsRockies fall to Dodgers as Ohtani launches another homer at their expenseRockies place All-Star Hunter Goodman on ILDr. Ramos & Zach Bye discuss Brenton Doyle’s ObliqueRockies pull plug on Lorenzen, designate him for assignment