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
Cellphone battery sparks fire, evacuations on Southwest flight at Denver International Airport
Everyone on board a Southwest Airlines flight at Denver International Airport was evacuated safely Friday morning after a cellphone battery ignited. It happened on board Southwest Airlines Flight 3316 before 7 a.m. as the plane was getting ready to depart for Houston.
According to Southwest, the aircraft was still at the gate when the fire started. The crew was able to extinguish a seat fire caused by the burning cellphone. The passenger who had the phone suffered burns and was treated by local medical personnel.
Southwest told CBS News Colorado that there were 108 passengers on board when the fire started. Those passengers in the back of the aircraft used the rear emergency slides and those in the front of the plane exited through the front door. One passenger suffered minor injuries during the evacuation.
The incident is being investigated and Southwest released this statement, “Southwest’s Customer Care Team is working to accommodate the passengers on another aircraft to their original destination of Houston. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of its Customers and Employees.”
According to a CBS News Investigation published last year, similar incidents have been happening much more frequently in the skies over the United States. The FAA verifies the number of lithium-ion battery fires jumped more than 42% in the last five years.
Denver, CO
Denver celebrates completion of pedestrian safety improvement project on Federal Boulevard, business owner looks forward to future
Progress is being made to improve safety on a busy stretch of Federal Boulevard near Empower Field at Mile High. On Thursday, Denver city officials and neighbors celebrated the completion of the North Federal Blvd Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project.
Work began last year on the stretch between 23rd Avenue and 27th Avenue that is intended to make it safer for pedestrians. The project includes new ramps, shorter crossings and slow-turn lanes for vehicles.
The construction team also made major drainage upgrades, which addressed flooding issues that plagued the area for years. The improvements were funded by the Elevate Denver bond approved by voters in 2017.
“We sent it to the voters in 2017, and a lot has happened since then — COVID, the world has changed a lot in my view,” said Amanda Sandoval, Denver City Council president for District 1. “Thank you for voting.”
However, Sandoval acknowledged the challenges businesses faced during construction.
“On every side of privilege, there is a burden. A business opened and closed because of the construction,” she said. “When you have an opportunity, support our local businesses, because that’s what gets this done.”
Federal Boulevard is considered one of Denver’s most dangerous streets, with pedestrians and drivers both facing safety risks. Last year, there were more than 80 car crash fatalities on Denver streets. The lack of pedestrian infrastructure was a contributing factor.
Matthew Cupp, owner of Lockhart & Co. Barbers, said the construction has increased the safety for not only himself but also for his clientele.
“I’ve been almost hit on Federal more than once,” Cupp said.
Besides those safety concerns when crossing the street, any weather-related event would make it a nightmare for the business owner.
“The street used to flood over the sidewalks, and at one point you couldn’t even cross the intersection,” he said.
Cupp also noted that the improvements have made it more efficient for pedestrians to cross.
“It used to take me 15 minutes or more to cross the street. Nobody wants to spend their lunch hour on the curb waiting for traffic,” he said.
Despite the improvements, Cupp hopes the changes will also bring more foot traffic which he lost much of during the construction period.
Sandoval echoed concerns about businesses struggling during the project.
“Support our local businesses because that’s what gets this done,” she said.
As the holiday season approaches, Cupp is feeling positive about the future of his business and the safety of his clients.
“I like it. My favorite part of the new additions is the safety improvements,” he said.
Denver, CO
Man dies after assault near north Westminster gas station
A man was “brutally assaulted” at a north Westminster gas station on his wedding anniversary and later died, according to police officials and his family.
Westminster Police Department investigators are seeking information about the Oct. 20 assault near 121st Avenue and Huron Street, the agency said in a news release Thursday.
The man’s family identified him as Jonny George in a GoFundMe seeking funds for his medical expenses. George was hospitalized for weeks and underwent multiple surgeries before he was declared brain dead, according to the page.
George was assaulted around 7:30 p.m., police officials said.
He called 911 about a “disturbance” approximately 10 minutes before the assault but did not want to file a report or be contacted by a police officer, said agency spokesperson Samantha Spitz.
The area does not have cameras and police are looking to speak to witnesses.
Anyone with information about the case can contact Westminster police at 303-658-4360 or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
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