Denver, CO
Rockies bullpen gives up six runs in ninth in 8-4 loss to Phillies
The Rockies have turned heartbreak into an art form.
For the umpteenth time this season, a late-inning rally against their undependable bullpen cost the Rockies a victory on Saturday night.
The Phillies won 8-4, scoring six runs in the ninth off relievers Jalen Beeks, Justin Lawrence and John Curtiss. The Coors Field crowd of 37,535 fans, many clad in Philly red, held a party.
“It’s frustration right now,” said Lawrence, who blew his third save and is carrying a 5.91 ERA. “It feels like a couple of times now that we have spoiled some really, really good starts by our guys. They have had some incredible stretches lately.
“I’ve been real big on trying to make those relief innings just kind of boring. Got out there and execute. But the (Phillies) are a good team and they have some really good hitters. YOu have to be able to execute against one of the best teams in the league, and I didn’t do that to the best of my ability tonight.”
Colorado’s loss was compounded by the loss of rookie outfielder Jordan Beck, who broke his hand while making a diving catch in the first inning.
In the ninth inning, Beeks committed a cardinal sin by walking leadoff hitter Brandon Marsh. Enter Lawrence, who promptly gave up an opposite-field RBI triple to right by Edmundo Sosa, tying the game, 3-3. Garrett Stubbs’ single through the right side scored Sosa for the go-ahead run.
Regarding Sosa’s triple, Lawrence said: “I threw that pitch with conviction, and it was one pitch that I executed. We wanted to go fastball in there, and he turned it inside out the other way. He’s hitting (.333) for a reason. He’s a great hitter.”
It got worse for the Rockies’ ‘pen. Much worse.
Curtiss relieved Lawrence and gave up a three-run homer to Bryce Harper, who sliced his 13th homer of the season just inside the left-field foul pole. The Phillies fans of LoDo serenaded Harper with chants of “MVP! MVP!”
A double by Alec Bohm and an RBI single by Nick Castellanos put a bow on Philly’s comeback.
Colorado scored a run in the bottom of the ninth on Charlie Blackmon’s RBI double, his 600th career extra-base hit, breaking a tie with Larry Walker for the second-most in franchise history behind Todd Helton (998).
“There is frustration when you lose a game, depending on how you lose it,” manager Bud Black said. “Whether it’s starting pitching, whether it’s lack of offense, whether it’s not hitting in the clutch, whether it’s poor defense … Right now, the bullpen has been very variable. So it is frustrating.”
The painful part for the Rockies, who are now 17-34 and on pace to lose 108 games, is that they are wasting excellent starting pitching.
Behind a solid start from Dakota Hudson, the Rockies looked primed to beat the powerful Phillies for the second night in a row.
Hudson, who’s been the weak link in the rotation chain, pitched a fine game. He held the Phillies to two runs on five hits over six innings. The right-hander has been walk-prone, but he issued just one free pass and fanned two.
“I was mixing a little bit over everything,” Hudson said. “I could have been a little bit better with my glove-side heater, but I felt really good about the changeup.”
Over the last five games, the Rockies have five quality starts and a sparkling 1.93 ERA. Since May 1 (22 games), they have a 3.80 ERA with 12 quality starts. All of that after an April in which Colorado starters posted a 5.81 ERA with just seven quality starts.
“I have always believed that starting pitching is the backbone of a team’s success,” Black said. “We have had a nice run of starts. I’m proud of the guys. In a lot of ways, they are very unheralded … but I’m proud of them and they way they are throwing the ball.”
Hudson’s night started out a bit rough. Kyle Schwarber led off with a solid single up the middle and scored on Harper’s line-drive single to right.
But Hudson regrouped and held Philly scoreless until the fifth. Stubbs led off with a single, advanced to second on Johan Rojas’ groundout, and then took third on a delayed steal when he caught the Rockies napping. Stubbs scored on Kyle Schwarber’s sacrifice fly to center, cutting Colorado’s lead to 3-2.
The Rockies manufactured single runs in the first, second and third innings against Phillies starter Aaron Nola. Until the ninth inning, it was all the offense the Rockies needed.
Back-to-back, two-out walks by Ryan McMahon and Kris Bryant set the table for Brendan Rodgers’ RBI single in the first. In the second, Brenton Doyle led off with an infield single, stole second, and took third on Jacob Stallings’ single. Doyle scored on Hunter Goodman’s groundout to give Colorado a 2-1 lead.
Ezequiel Tovar converted his leadoff single into a 3-1 lead in the third. Marsh’s error allowed Tovar to scoot to second, and Tovar took third on Ryan McMahon’s groundout. Tovar scored on Bryant’s hard groundout that caromed off Nola.
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Denver, CO
Zane Nelson scores 22 off bench as Denver defeats Colorado State 83-81
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Zane Nelson’s 22 points off the bench helped Denver hold off Colorado State 83-81 on Friday night.
Nelson shot 6 of 10 from the field, including 3 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 7 for 8 from the foul line for the Pioneers (2-3). Carson Johnson scored 18 points while shooting 6 for 11 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. Julius Rollins had 16 points.
The Rams (4-1) were led by Kyle Jorgensen, who posted 29 points and six rebounds. Carey Booth added 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, while Brandon Rechsteiner finished with 11 points.
Denver went into the half leading Colorado State 41-33. Nelson scored 14 points in the half. Denver pulled off the victory after a 7-0 second-half run erased a three-point deficit and gave them the lead at 58-54 with 10:19 left in the half. Logan Kinsey scored nine second-half points.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Denver, CO
Denver ties mark Friday for second-latest date for a first snowfall
Metro Denver residents in some areas woke up to wet sidewalks, marking the first measurable moisture the area has received in 24 days. But outside of the foothills, snow still hasn’t arrived, tying 1934 for the second-latest first snowfall on record.
There was fog and a light mist at Denver International Airport, with the temperature at around 40 degrees, as of 6 a.m. There is a 50% chance of light showers in the area through around 10 a.m. before things dry up again. The skies should turn partly cloudy with a high of 49 degrees and a slight wind from the north at 3 to 5 miles per hour, according to a forecast from the National Weather Service in Boulder.
But still no snow. If there isn’t 0.1 inches of snow measured by the end of today, unlikely given where temperatures are at, then the next mark to reach will be Dec. 10, which represents the latest first snowfall ever measured locally. That record was set in 2021.
The next best chance for snow is expected on Thanksgiving morning, when temperatures will dip down into the mid-20s overnight. But the forecast calls for only a slight chance of snow and showers. The high on Thursday is forecast to reach 54 degrees. After that, Sunday, Nov. 30, offers a 50% chance of snow showers.
The weather shouldn’t interfere with the morning commute. But light snow is expected to continue through the I-70 corridor for those heading up into the mountains.
Denver, CO
Renovations begin at Denver’s Civic Center Park for the first time in 100 years
The first major renovations in Civic Center Park for the first time in 100 years began this week. The City of Denver wants to make the park more inviting for events and people while preserving the area’s history.
The park is a popular spot for concerts, protests, and festivals based on its central location in downtown Denver and also its large lawn space with flowers and concrete paths.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said the park is in need of a makeover while embracing its past.
“We are both custodians of the history of this place, and we are also caretakers of the future, which means we have to make sure that we make the investments like this to prepare this public space for the next 100 years of events,” said Johnston.
Phase one of the renovations is expected to be complete by Summer 2027.
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