Rockies muster just two hits in shutout loss as they fall to 7-37

Rockies Report, Game 44:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: Colorado’s batters put just 15 balls into play and struck out 14 times in marching out meekly in an 8-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.

The Rockies mustered just two hits, one of which came from shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who returned to the lineup after a month-long stay on the injured list due to a hip issue.

Tovar’s leadoff single in the fourth inning started Colorado’s only true opportunity for runs, as two subsequent walks loaded the bases. But Mickey Moniak struck out on three pitches, and the Rox never seriously threatened after that.

Diamondbacks starter Corbin Burnes mowed down Colorado’s lineup over six innings before handing it off to his bullpen, which delivered three innings of no-hit work.

Ryan Rolison, the Rockies’ 2018 first-round pick who made his long-awaited major-league debut Tuesday, delivered 1 1/3 innings of spotless relief work.

But the rough night got out of hand in the seventh and eighth innings, as Arizona tagged Jimmy Herget and Seth Halvorsen for three additional runs.

Colorado sank further into historical quicksand; its 7-37 record stands alone as the worst through 44 games in the modern era.

The 2-21 start in their first 23 road games matches the 1988 Baltimore Orioles and 2005 Houston Astros for the worst opening 23-game road record in the modern era.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

Carson Palmquist had some promising flashes in his first major-league start, but with Colorado’s bats once again silent, little he could have done would have made a difference in helping the Rox avoid dropping their 14th series-opening game in 15 opportunities so far this season.

The club’s No. 9 overall prospect heading into the season per MLB Pipeline got through the first inning unscathed, allowing only an infield single to Corbin Carroll.

But Arizona did a good job working runners around in the innings that followed, accumulating baserunners at Palmquist’s expense. Two of the runs allowed came on sacrifice flies, another was on a groundout.

Palmquist’s high strikeout rate through his minor-league rise didn’t manifest itself Friday night; he failed to strike out any of the Diamondbacks he faced.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Arizona added two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning after Colorado frittered away a bases-loaded chance, rendering the rest of the game academic.


ROCKIES NUMBER TO NOTE: 28 — Strikeouts for the Rockies in their last two games. Every Rockie in the starting lineup Friday struck out at least once. “We’re still pressing a lot,” Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer said after the game.

WHAT’S NEXT: Germán Márquez looks for his second solid start in a row on Saturday night. Arizona counters with Zac Gallen. First pitch at Chase Field is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. MDT.

Related

Rockies open by striking out seven-straight times en route to 11-2 defeatReport: Rockies letting other teams know that several players are available at deadlineRockies’ late rally falls short in 8-5 loss to BrewersSugano earns 10th win as Rockies start road trip by beating NL Central leadersRockies offense, bullpen can’t match Hughes’ strong start in 8-0 throttlingRockies drawing trade interest on multiple players ahead of deadline