Rockies undone by error, drop 101st despite Mason Adams’ quality start

DENVER — Rockies Report, Game 158:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: One costly error from left fielder Zac Veen led to four unearned first-inning runs that proved to be the difference in a 5-3 Rockies loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in front of 21,041 fans and more than a few dogs for “Bark in the Park” night at Coors Field on Wednesday night.

One evening after the Rox clinched their fourth-consecutive 100-loss season — the most in succession for any team in 61 years — matters unraveled early as Veen flubbed a soft fly ball from Ketel Marte, who advanced to second base on the error. Gabriel Moreno drove in Marte two pitches later, and after a Gerardo Perdomo strikeout, the-straight Arizona batters reached base with two outs.

“Everybody makes an error every now and then. It just happened to be in the first inning where it led to some runs today,” manager Warren Schaeffer said.

The Rockies were able to chip away, however, as rookie right-handed starter Mason Adams found a groove. Adael Amador brought in Kyle Karros with a second-inning RBI double, and Hunter Goodman added an RBI to his tally with a third-inning sacrifice fly.

Arizona wouldn’t score again until Tim Tawa took Mark Manfredi deep on the first pitch of the eighth inning, but Ezequiel Tovar responded with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the inning.

Kyle Karros led off the ninth inning with a ground-ball single to left field. But he was thrown out after Adael Amador hit into a forceout at second base. Troy Johnston drew a walk, then advanced to second base on Jordan Beck’s ground out.

That set up Tovar with a chance to tie the game with a base hit — or win it with his second homer in as many innings after reading off the eighth inning via a solo shot that just barely cleared the right-field scoreboard. But he popped out to foul territory beyond the first-base line, with Arizona first baseman Ildemaro Vargas leaning over the rail to grab it and end Colorado’s hopes of a rally.

The Rox fell to 57-101.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

Adams has shown enough promise since joining the Rockies at the trade deadline to continue turning the page with him, but he’ll leave the season still looking for his first major-league win after six starts.

All four of the Diamondbacks’ runs at his expense in the were unearned following Veen’s one-out error in left field. Four of the next five Arizona batters reached base, capped by Corbin Carroll’s 2-RBI triple down the right-field line to put the Diamondbacks up 4-0.

But after that, Adams retired the next 13 batters he faced in 43 pitches.

“I thought he was fantastic today,” Schaeffer said. “Kept his head about him in the first inning and then was basically unhittable after that.”

Adams recorded the first quality start, striking out eight while issuing just one walk.

“The kid’s got a bright future, man. I’m excited to have him,” Schaeffer said.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Tovar popped up with two runners in scoring position for the final out.

NUMBER TO NOTE: 99 — Games that passed between Rockies starters allowing no earned runs with at least four innings pitched. Ryan Feltner was the last Colorado starter to accomplish this, tossing six scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants on May 30.

WHAT’S NEXT: Tanner Gordon will try to help end the Rockies’ home slate on a high note in a Thursday matinee. Eduardo Rodriguez gets the ball for Arizona. First pitch of what could be the final game at Coors Field for quite a while — given the looming work stoppage — is set for 1:10 p.m. MDT.

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