Rockies hit halfway point on pace for worst record of 162-game era

Rockies Report, Game 81:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: It was a rather fitting way for the Rockies to reach the midway point in a historically awful start to the season — and officially reach the halfway mark with no mathematical shot of winning 100 games this year.

Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Tyler Freeman drew a leadoff walk from Los Angeles Dodgers closer Tanner Scott, stoking hopes of a rally. Jordan Beck struck out, sending Thairo Estrada to the plate. With a 2-2 count, Estrada lined an inside fastball to center field, and Andy Pages easily tracked it down for the second out.

But Freeman misjudged the ball, traipsing halfway to second base. And when Pages delivered a strike to Freddie Freeman at first base, Colorado’s 63rd loss was sealed on an 8-3 double play.

“You can’t get doubled off when you have the tying run at the plate,” interim manager Warren Schaeffer lamented.

ANDY CALLED GAME. pic.twitter.com/7cUq1MBfNE

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 26, 2025

Sometimes, the Rockies are victims of happenstance and circumstances beyond their control. Wednesday night was one example. At others, they point the gun at themselves.

But it came down to such a moment thanks to a dominant performance from Los Angeles starter Clayton Kershaw. His 51st career start against the Rox was among his finest, as he stymied Colorado batters, holding them to two hits while issuing just a single walk.

Brenton Doyle’s solo home run in the second inning represented the entirety of Colorado’s offense. It was his sixth homer of the season, and briefly put the Rox in front.

Los Angeles tied it in the following inning via a Mookie Betts RBI single that scored Miguel Rojas. The Dodgers took the lead at the expense of Colorado reliever Angel Chivilli in the sixth.

After Doyle’s dinger, no Colorado batter advanced beyond second base. While Colorado’s bullpen buckled, the Dodgers ‘pen followed Kershaw with three innings of no-hit ball.

A work of art 🤌 pic.twitter.com/FqRgcbFu5D

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) June 26, 2025

Colorado finished with just two hits.

“[Kershaw] was throwing in early on during the game and tying up our right-handers with some cut,” Schaeffer said. “… He just kept us on the ground overall. He did a nice job against us. We didn’t have an answer.”

At 18-63, Colorado is three games worse than the Chicago White Sox were at the same point last season. The Southsiders’ 41-121 record in 2024 is the worst for any team to play 162 games.

Still, June has been the best month of the season for the Rox. With a 9-14 record, their nine this month match their total from March, April and May combined. Objectively, their form has improved.

“We’re playing better baseball. I think everybody in that room knows it,” Schaeffer said.

It must be said that you can only line up against the teams scheduled against you. But the Rockies’ June mark includes a 6-1 mark versus the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals — two teams that sit more than 10 games below .500 — and a 3-13 ledger against all other foes.

For the season, Colorado is 8-5 against teams at least 10 games below .500, 8-29 against teams within 10 games of .500 in either direction and 2-29 against teams — including the Dodgers — that are 10 games or better above .500.

June’s patterns somewhat reflect those trends; the month’s breakdown shows records of 6-1, 3-6 and 0-7 for each category, respectively.

But of the seven losses this month to teams at least 10 games over .500 — the Dodgers and New York Mets — four were by two runs apiece. Narrow defeats to the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets filled the final week of May.

The beatdowns of April and early May have become more infrequent. The Rox may not be able to avoid being MLB’s worst team in 2025 — they are eight games back of the penultimate team from the bottom, the White Sox — but there is tangible hope that they can at least avoid history.

“I feel like progress is being made on a consistent basis,” Schaeffer said. “We just got done playing the world champs and we gave them a fight.”

Colorado will not see another team currently at least 10 games above .500 until Aug. 18, when the Dodgers return to Coors Field for a four-game series. Between now and then, the Rox will face nine opponents currently more than 10 games below .500, with the rest falling in between.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

Austin Gomber rebounded from a shaky performance last weekend by neutralizing Los Angeles’ lineup, scattering four hits and a walk over five innings in a 77-pitch outing.

He was helped in the fifth inning by Doyle, who made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Enrique Hernández of an RBI extra-base hit with Tommy Edman on second after a leadoff double.

Given that support, Gomber settled in and retired the next two batters — including Shohei Ohtani, who went 0-for-2 and drew the only walk issued by Gomber.

He left with the game knotted at 1-apiece. Angel Chivilli took the loss after allowing the first three batters he faced in the sixth inning to reach base, with Freddie Freeman bringing home Mookie Betts with an RBI single for the deciding run.

Tyler Kinley gave up his second home run in as many days in the seventh inning when Ohtani took him 419 feet over the Bridich Barrier.

#28 for Sho-time!!!#LetsGoDodgers pic.twitter.com/qSa5W0WFmx

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 26, 2025

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Tyler Freeman was doubled up.

NUMBERS TO NOTE: 0-for-13 — Ledger for the top four spots in the Rockies’ lineup.

WHAT’S NEXT: A three-game trip to Milwaukee, which has the National League’s best record since May 25, at 20-8. Colorado avoids Brewers rookie fireballer Jacob Misiorowski during this series, but will see Jose Quintana, who has a 2.98 ERA so far this season. First pitch at American Family Field will be at 6:10 p.m. MDT.

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