Colorado
Rockies’ Michael Lorenzen says he can pitch at Coors Field, despite Mets scoring seven runs on 11 hits in five innings
Toss out Wednesday night’s results. Michael Lorenzen believes he can pitch at Coors Field. His manager thinks so too.
The box score said otherwise: Over five innings, the Mets had 11 hits off the Rockies’ right-hander, leading to seven runs as the Mets cruised to a 10-5 win.
The announced crowd at Coors was 11,155 on a night when the temperature at first pitch was 41 degrees. That is the lowest home crowd in Rockies history. However, the Rockies said that many fans exchanged their tickets for another game after this week’s snow, postponed games, and the fact that Wednesday’s game was pushed back from a 6:40 p.m. start to a 7:20 p.m. start.
The fans who stayed away were probably glad they did, because the Rockies suffered their sixth consecutive loss, and their sweep of the Mets at Citi Field on April 24-26 seems long ago and far away.
Manager Warren Schaeffer saw a mixed bag from Lorenzen.
“That’s a lot of hits, 11, and he had three walks in there that hurt,” Schaeffer said. “Good pitch mix, but they were on him. When he threw it over the plate, they put the ball in play — whether hard sometimes or not. They made it work, so hats off to them.”
Lorenzen’s night began ominously when Juan Soto hit Lorenzen’s third pitch of the game 435 feet and into the left-centerfield seats. It was the first leadoff home run of Soto’s career.
Lorenzen said he “wasn’t making excuses,” but said he did feel like he threw decent pitches, save for a leadoff homer by Soto and a triple by MJ Melendez two batters later.
“I wouldn’t say they were on me, there was a lot of, like, 77 mph hits,” said Lorenzen, who is 2-4 with a 6.92 ERA after eight starts (nine appearances). “There was one Coors-style double in there. There were a lot of bloops that were hit over second base on changeups and sinkers.”
The right-hander, whom the Rockies signed to a one-year, $8 million contract, with a team option worth $9 million next season, owns a 9.64 ERA after four starts at Coors this season.
But Schaeffer put his full faith and trust in Lorenzen, Coors or no Coors.
“I see too small of a sample size to make a thing (out of) that one,” Schaeffer said. “The first game that he pitched against Philadelphia (nine runs on 12 hits over three innings) was a throw-away game. Michael will be fine. He wanted to come here, to pitch here specifically. He’ll figure it out.”
Lorenzen said it’s “just been kind of frustrating” for him this season.
“I feel like I’ve thrown the ball pretty well, and today, I thought I threw it great,” he said. “It’s just that balls aren’t hit where you hope they would be hit. Weak contact isn’t hit where you would hope it would be hit. I wouldn’t say it’s a Coors Field thing.”
The Rockies’ four-run sixth inning cut New York’s lead to 8-4. The inning featured a leadoff home run by rookie TJ Rumfield, his sixth, and a two-run homer by Jake McCarthy, his first of the season.
Meanwhile, the Rockies barely laid a glove on New York starter Freddy Peralta, who continued his dominance at Coors Field. The right-hander blanked the Rockies for five innings, allowing four harmless singles over. He walked two and struck out one.
Peralta made his major league debut at Coors on May 13, 2018, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning and striking out 13 over 5 2/3 innings. On May 2, 2023, he struck out 10 innings, allowing two runs.
Pitching probables
Thursday: Mets RHP Christian Scott (0-0, 4.26 ERA) at Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (1-2, 4.07), 1:10 p.m.
Friday: Rockies TBD at Phillies LHP Jesus Luzardo (3-3, 5.09), 4:40 p.m.
Saturday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-3, 5.04) at Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (2-3, 5.06), 4:05 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.01 FM
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Colorado
Julian Lewis Says Deion Sanders’ Colorado ‘Wasn’t Really Looking at Defenses Much’ Last Season
Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis made a stunning admission that could explain the team’s 3-9 finish to the 2025 season.
While speaking to ESPNU at Big 12 media days, Lewis was asked what the biggest difference was between last year and this year, and he revealed that the Deion Sanders-coached Buffaloes typically didn’t watch film during his first season with the team.
“My play, I’m actually looking at the defenses now,” Lewis said. “Last year, we wasn’t really looking at defenses much, just kind of high school free-balling, just out there playing football. But it’s a lot bigger than that now, so it should be fun.”
Before taking a redshirt year, Lewis played in four games as a true freshman with two starts and threw for 589 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 55.3 percent of his passes. He should fare even better this season with the benefit of film study.
Lewis will enter the 2026 campaign as Colorado’s starting quarterback, so he will have the opportunity to show his improvements when the Buffaloes open the year against Georgia Tech on Sept. 3.
State and federal agencies are starting to reopen public lands, state wildlife areas and a segment of the Colorado River that were closed in light of the Snyder Fire in Mesa County.
Stage 2 fire restrictions — banning all open fire or flames, including charcoal grills and wood-burning stoves — remain in effect as extreme fire danger, spurred on by hot and dry conditions, persists across the region.
The Snyder Fire started on Friday, June 26, when several smaller fires burning on the Colorado-Utah border combined. As of July 7, the fire was 98% contained after burning over 30,200 acres and killing three wildland firefighters.
With fire activity decreasing and containment increasing, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Bureau of Land Management shared their plans Tuesday to reopen lands impacted by the wildfire.
Parks and Wildlife said in a news release that it, alongside the Bureau of Land Management, had lifted the closure for public access and downstream recreation on the Colorado River, starting at the James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park in Fruita and extending to the Utah state line. It also reopened the boat ramp at the Fruita section of the James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park in Fruita to downstream traffic.
The state agency’s Horsethief State Wildlife Area in Fruita and the Loma Boat Launch State Wildlife Area also reopened.
The BLM said in a news release that all lands within the perimeter of the Snyder Fire burn area remain closed to ensure public and firefighter safety.
“The burned landscape — including vegetation — remains dynamic and unpredictable as it naturally recovers from the fire impacts. This order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until the order is rescinded,” the BLM said.
Both agencies also warned that fire danger remains extremely elevated and Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place.
A map of current federal and state fire restrictions is available on the Rocky Mountain Area Interagency Fire Restriction Dashboard or by visiting DFPC.Colorado.Gov/sections/wildfire-information-center. The Colorado Trails Explorer (or COTREX) app also has wildfire closure alerts.
Under current conditions, Parks and Wildlife advised the following actions to prevent sparking wildfires:
- Use established rings: Where permitted, only build campfires inside permanent metal fire rings in designated campgrounds.
- Clear nearby debris: Remove all dry grass, leaves and pine needles within a 10-foot radius of any flame.
- Drown and stir: Extinguish fires completely with water, stir the ashes, and ensure the debris is cold to the touch.
- Watch campfires constantly: Never leave a fire or portable stove unattended. If you see an unattended fire, call 911.
- Keep vehicles off brush: Avoid parking or idling cars on tall, dry grass where hot exhaust systems can ignite a fire.
- Secure towing equipment: Ensure trailer safety chains do not drag and spark against asphalt. Check them at every stop.
The BLM added that under its Stage 2 restrictions, smoking is prohibited except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
Gas-powered stoves or grills with a shut-off valve are still allowed in cleared areas under this stage.
Violating Stage 2 fire restrictions by lighting a campfire is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Violators face an immediate citation, a mandatory court appearance, steep fines and potential jail time. Additionally, you can be held financially liable for all fire suppression costs and property damage if the campfire sparks a wildfire.
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