
The Colorado Rockies entered Detroit hoping to snap a seven-game losing streak on the road. Despite a solid start from their rookie pitcher and an offense that out-hit the Tigers, the Rockies bullpen collapsed in the middle innings, leading to a 6-2 defeat. They are now just eight games away from losing 100 games for the fourth season in a row.
Well done, Mr. Adams
Making his fourth big-league start, Mason Adams continued to impress in a Rockies uniform with a fairly quick and efficient outing.
The night started promisingly as Adams struck out the side in the bottom of the first inning. In the second, he allowed a leadoff single to Riley Greene and a one-out walk to Max Clark but managed to escape with a ground ball double play. He then worked a quick 1-2-3 third inning followed by a quick fourth inning where he faced the minimum.
Through the first four innings, Adams had thrown just 52 pitches with four groundouts and looked primed to go the deepest into the game than he had previously. Unfortunately, he had to labor in the fifth inning with 25 pitches.
After the Rockies had taken the lead in the top half of the fifth inning, it didn’t take long for the Tigers to tie things up. After striking out Dillon Dingler for the second time, Adams surrendered a solo home run to rookie outfielder Max Clark on a fastball that was low and inside. The home run may have rattled Adams a smidge as he walked the next two batters, but he got out of the inning by inducing another double-play ball.
His night was over after 77 pitches, having allowed just the one run on two hits over five innings with five strikeouts against three walks. Adams pounded the zone and the Detroit lineup had a tough time squaring him up. Even the pitch Clark hit out was a quality offering that he just got beat on. The efficiency was on point and the future remains quite bright for the young right-hander.
“I thought [Adams] was really good,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “He got behind in some counts and had some walks but other than that I thought the breaking ball was really good. The punch-out was high; he looked sharp.”
“I think it all goes back to his poise and his preparation. He looks in total control out there and he has really good stuff. Those two things combined and the presence he brings on the mound, it’s something that lines up for a long time in the future.”
Sixth inning bullpen struggles and beyond
After a great performance by the rookie starter, the Rockies turned to rookie reliever Mark Manfredi in the sixth inning. After retiring Kevin McGonigle to start the inning, Manfredi walked Gleybor Torres. He then got pinch-hitter Spencer Torkelson to fly out to right field for the second out of the inning. Riley Greene then stepped up to the plate and seemingly struck out to end the inning, but he challenged the pitch, which was flipped to a ball. Greene then launched a ball to center field that Cole Carrigg tracked all the way to the wall, but as he hit the wall and got tied up as the ball hit the wall right next to his glove. Greene ended up with an RBI triple to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
The Rockies then turned to rookie reliever Nick Frasso.
Unfortunately, Dingler unloaded on the first pitch he saw for a two-run home run — his first long ball in five weeks — to put the Tigers up 4-1. Frasso lost all command of his pitches as he spiked a curveball that hit Clark, who promptly stole second base. Frasso then yanked back-to-back wild pitches that allowed Clark to move up to third base and subsequently score and make it 5-1 Tigers. John Peck then walked and stole second base before Zach McKinstry flew out to finally end the inning.
Blas Castaño took over in the seventh inning and worked a quick inning, but the Tigers collected their sixth run of the game when Greene collected an RBI double in the eighth inning. He managed to escape without any further damage.
The bullpen surrendered five runs on just three hits while walking three and hitting a batter, while recording zero strikeouts.
Stalled engine
Much like the series in New York, the Rockies had opportunities to score but couldn’t put much together against Tigers starter Framber Valdez. The Rockies managed to get a pair of base runners in the first inning, but Valdez escaped with a double-play ball from Hunter Goodman.
The ground ball was quite prevalent for Valdez throughout his start. Through his six innings of work, he induced 11 groundouts while striking out just two batters and issuing two walks.
The Rockies finally managed to crack through in the fifth inning, but it took a lot of frustration. Troy Johnston led off the inning with a single and moved up to third when Jordan Beck singled to right field. With runners on the corners, Ezequiel Tovar dropped a bunt that resulted in a flip play by Valdez to cut down Johnston at the plate. Jake McCarthy then lined up a ball into right that looked like it would score Beck from second base. Unfortunately, McKinstry got to the ball quickly and fired a bullet to home plate to cut down Beck.
Connor Norby then managed to draw a walk to load the bases with two outs. Carrigg rolled over on a ball to third base that ended up kicking off the heel of McGonigle’s glove, allowing Tovar to score and give the Rockies a brief 1-0 lead.
Jacob Waguespack replaced Valdez and threw two scoreless innings, giving up just one hit while striking out two. The Rockies then were able to threaten in the ninth inning against Brant Hurter. Adael Amador singled to lead off and eventually came in to score on a two-out infield single by Zac Veen. McCarthy then singled to put two runners on, his third hit of the game, which prompted Detroit to bring in Kenley Jansen. He then retired Norby on three pitches.
The Rockies lineup only had five strikeouts while out-hitting the Tigers 10-5, but they had no extra-base hits and went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The lack of thump and lost chances in the fifth inning, combined with the dozen groundouts, made for another tough night offensively.
Up next
The series continues Saturday morning with Tanner Gordon (1-4, 5.40 ERA) taking the ball for the Rockies. Detroit has yet to announce a starting pitcher.
First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 am MDT.
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