With Oberg out and Davis struggling, Black facing tough decision at closer

The ninth inning is once again a troubling black hole for the Rockies.

Right-hander Scott Oberg, their best and most consistent pitcher this season, had emerged as a shining light, especially at Coors Field, where he posted a 1.71 ERA in 28 appearances without allowing a single home run. That’s no easy trick.

But Oberg was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with axillary artery thrombosis (blood clots) in his right arm. He was hospitalized Saturday, and although a procedure dissolved the clot, he’ll be out for the rest of the season.

So now what? Manager Bud Black reinserted veteran righthander Wade Davis into the closer role against Miami on Sunday only to see Davis suffer another LoDo meltdown. Davis got into trouble immediately, issuing a leadoff walk to Jorge Alfaro, then giving up a double to Lewis Brinson and a run-scoring single to Neil Walker.

Davis was charged with a blown save and all three runs in the ninth, nearly costing the Rockies another game. Colorado rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the frame and then rallied again in the 10th to beat the Marlins 7-6.

After the game, Black didn’t have much to say about Davis’ status as closer.

“It was a tough outing, for sure,” Black said. “We’ll continue to assess all of our players.”

That assessment obviously will include a look at Davis’ statistics at Coors Field, where he has a 10.79 ERA in 25 outings, compared to the road, where it’s a minuscule 0.63 over 16 appearances. Black said previously he wouldn’t use one closer at home and a different closer on the road.

The Rockies, out of the playoff hunt barring a miraculous run of Rocktober proportions, could decide to use the rest of the season to test others in the ninth-inning role. Right-hander Carlos Estevez — who gutted out two innings Saturday and again Sunday to get the win — could be a prime candidate.

“I feel more prepared and more experienced now,” said Estevez, a hard thrower with a 3.97 ERA and a ton of confidence. “I have been put in every spot, pretty much. I’m ready to go whenever they want me to do, in any situation.”

One thing Black is sure to like is the attitude Estevez displayed Sunday in the 10th inning. Needing one more out, Black came out to the mound to consult with Estevez.

“I said, ‘Honestly, I’m tired, but we’ve got one more out and I’ve got one more in the tank,’ ” Estevez said. “Buddy said, ‘Go get it. Blow it by him.’ It did pump me up a little bit.”

With that, Estevez struck out Brinson on three consecutive 98 mph fastballs.

This marks the second time that Oberg, 29, has suffered from blood clots in his arm. The condition also ended his 2016 season. Black, stressing that he is not in a position to speculate about Oberg’s future, did say, “I would think it’s concerning.”

Black said he has texted with Oberg, who reported that the procedure to dissolve the blood clot went fine.

Oberg (6-1, 2.25 ERA) had five saves this season, the latest a one-hit, one-strikeout performance in Colorado’s 3-0 victory over Miami on Friday night.

Black said that Oberg first noticed troubling symptoms Saturday.

“His arm felt heavy. It just didn’t feel normal, so he was alarmed,” Black said. “In simplest terms, (it’s a) blood clot in the arm, he had it dissolved, and from what happens today moving forward, I’ll be kept abreast of what happens. That’s as far as I know.”

Oberg’s 2016 season ended Aug. 22. He then underwent two surgeries, was prescribed bloodthinning medication and had to deal with an infection to the sutures on his right shoulder. All of that put Oberg out of baseball action for about three months.

In a corresponding move, the Rockies recalled reliever DJ Johnson up from Triple-A Albuquerque. Johnson is 0-1 with a 9.26 ERA in 14 big-league appearances this season.