Blach’s solid outing lifts Rockies past Rangers

DENVER — Converted reliever Ty Blach pitched five solid innings in his second start this season, Ezequiel Tovar homered and the Colorado Rockies beat the Texas Rangers 3-1 on Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep of the defending World Series champions.

It was the first time the Rangers, losers of four of their last five, have been swept this season. Their offense was also stifled by three double plays, two sparkling defensive plays by third baseman Ryan Mcmahon and a run-saving catch against the center field wall by Brenton Doyle for the final out of the fifth inning.

Doyle also drew a basesloaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning for the Rockies’ final run.

The Rangers’ single run represented their lowest total in three games at Colorado and they were outscored 15-6 overall during the series.

“It’s fair to say with most of the order, you’ve got some guys that just aren’t swinging like they normally do,” Bochy said. “We did have some guys who did some good things.

But we just couldn’t mount a good inning in three games here and that’s what surprises me more than anything.”

Bochy also said the Rockies’ defense figured prominently in the outcome.

“They made some great plays in the outfield, infield,” Bochy said. “When we did hit it pretty good, they made the plays.”

The sweep by the Rockies, who have won a season high four in a row, was their first since May 2-4, 2023, against Milwaukee. It was their only series sweep during last year’s 103-loss season.

Jalen Beeks got three outs for his third save in three chances.

Blach (1-1) allowed one run on seven hits. He gave up three singles in the first inning, including an RBI single by Adolis Garcia, but limited the damage by inducing a double-play grounder from Nathaniel Lowe. He gave up three more singles around a double play in the fifth before Doyle crashed into the wall to snare Corey Seager’s sharply hit line drive to the fence.

“I think defense definitely won that game,” said Brendan Rodgers, the Rockies second baseman who was at the center of a pair of double plays.

The Rangers begin a 3-game series against Cleveland today at 7:05 p.m. at Globe Life Field.

(AP photo/david Zalubowski) Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien, left, mishandles a throw as Colorado Rockies' Brendan Rodgers, right, steals second base Sunday during a baseball game in Denver.