Rockies’ post-trade-deadline descent continues as rally falls short in home finale

Rockies Report, Game 159:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: The Rockies were down 6-0 before they could record an out. They trailed 10-0 before they finally scored, looking destined for a rotten end to the home schedule this season.

Instead, they somehow made it interesting, turning what would eventually be a 12-1 deficit midway through the sixth inning into a rally that brought them back within four runs — but no closer than that in what would be a 12-8 loss.

Most of the Diamondbacks’ damage came at the expense of starter Tanner Gordon, who in 3 1/3 innings was rocked for 12 hits and four walks, allowing 10 runs — all earned.

But the Rockies chipped away at the deficit with a solo home run from Kyle Karros in the sixth inning, a four-run seventh punctuated by Cole Carrigg’s 11th home run — a three-run shot — and two runs in the eighth, highlighted by a solo homer from Zac Veen.

Fighting back 💪 pic.twitter.com/euodnrExDT

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) September 24, 2026

The Rockies fell to 57-102.

But perhaps more notable are their trends since the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

The Rockies went 2-8 during their final homestand. They dropped 20 of their 25 post-deadline home games including a 10-game home skid in August that was their lengthiest-ever skein at Coors Field.

It feels bad for the Rockies down the stretch, indeed. And while their recent run has seen them learn a bit more about the long-term prospects of their young pitchers and outfielders Jordan Beck and Zac Veen, it doesn’t make the win-loss result any less frustrating.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

By the time Tanner Gordon recorded his first out of the afternoon, Arizona had six runs on the board — the last two of which came on the second home run of the three-game series from former Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado. It didn’t get much better for him in the innings that followed before Jimmy Herget relieved him with one out in the fourth.

Gordon has a 15.60 earned-run average in four September starts and an astonishing 3.200 WHIP in that span. His season likely is over unless he makes an unexpected bullpen appearance Sunday; he closed the campaign with a major-league ERA over 6.00 for the third time in as many seasons.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: The Rox went down 1-2-3 against Arizona reliever Kevin Ginkel in the ninth inning.

NUMBER TO NOTE: 12 — Wins since the trade deadline. The Rockies are 12-35 overall Aug. 3 which — remarkably — would put them on a 41-win pace over the course of a full season, which would be two games below their win tally in the disastrous 2025 season.

WHAT’S NEXT: The final series of the season against the Chicago White Sox, who are fighting for a division title and a bye that would give them instant passage to the American League Division Series. Tomoyuki Sugano will start for the Rockies, looking for his first win since Aug. 11; in seven starts since then, he’s 0-6 with an 8.47 ERA since then. Sean Burke will get the ball for the White Sox. First pitch is set for 5:40 p.m. MDT.

Related

Rockies undone by error, drop 101st despite Mason Adams’ quality startRockies join miserable fraternity: A history of the teams that lost 100 games four (or more) years in a rowRockies clinch fourth-straight 100-loss season; Arenado helps push them over the cliffKyle Freeland emotional after what could be his final Coors Field start with RockiesRockies drop series finale to Mariners, now just one loss from 100Rockies rally past Mariners, get four innings from Quintana in 5-3 win