DUNN’S RETURN TO FORM HELPING STABILIZE BULLPEN
While the Rockies were searching for relief pitchers as the trade deadline neared, their shaky bullpen was being shored up from within.
Left-hander Mike Dunn has quietly and steadily begun to resemble the pitcher who posted a 1.17 ERA in April before back issues landed him on the disabled list and messed with his mechanics.
“I definitely feel like I’m in a better spot, but there is still room to improve and get sharper,” said Dunn, who signed a three-year, $19 million free-agent contract to come to Colorado. “Initially, my mechanics were off when I came back from injury. I got that straightened out, but then I put a lot of pressure on myself to return to form right away.
“I started tensing up and fighting myself a little bit. Once I caught on to that, I took a step back and realized that I just needed to concentrate on executing one pitch at a time.”
Dunn had a 4.46 ERA and 1.37 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) entering Friday night’s game against Philadelphia. That’s certainly not great, but he has held opponents scoreless in 11 of his last 12 appearances with a 0.90 ERA.
“July was good for him and he looks back on track,” manager Bud Black said. “His pitches are condensed in the strike zone and his slider has been much better. Even the curveball, which he uses sparingly, has landed much more consistently. He’s getting back to form.”
Bettis update.
Right-hander Chad Bettis, working his way back from testicular cancer, will make at least one more start for Triple-A Albuquerque before he joins the starting rotation, Black confirmed Friday.
Bettis pitched 5 M innings for Triple-A Albuquerque against Round Rock (Texas) on Thursday night. He allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits, including a solo homer, and two walks. He struck out five.
“Chad threw pitches into the sixth inning, which is great, and his fastball velocity was up a tick, which was good to see,” Black said. “His breaking pitches were effective, at times. I think Chad will tell you he would like to be a little bit more consistent. All in all, it was another step for him. He’s going to pitch again, in five or six days, for the Isotopes.”
Walk-off tidbits.
Nolan Arenado’s ninth-inning plate appearance resulting in Colorado’s 5-4, walk-off win over the Mets on Thursday afternoon was rare, for a couple of reasons.
After starting with an 0-2 count, Arenado walked with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run. That was the second time in 84 plate appearances this season in which he walked after starting with an 0-2 count, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Arenado’s walk-off walk marked the first time in more than 11 years the Rockies won a game in that fashion. The last time was on May 5, 2006 vs. Houston when Jamey Carroll drew a free pass with the bases loaded. The Rockies also won that game 5-4.