Rockies blow shot to blow game open
Then Rangers take advantage of struggling ’pen
ARLINGTON, TEXAS» The Rockies’ frustrating 5-2 loss to the Rangers Saturday at Globe Life Park was a microcosm of their deepening June gloom.
Missed opportunities at the plate, followed by another lategame collapse by the teetering bullpen, added up to Colorado’s 11th loss in its last 15 games. It marked the 20th time in 70 games this season that the Rockies (3436) lost when holding a lead at some point in the game. That’s the worst such mark in the National League and the third-worst in the majors.
The defeat marred another strong start by left-hander Kyle Freeland, who is 6-3 with a 2.89 ERA over his last 10 starts.
Texas scored three runs in the eighth off lefty reliever Harrison Musgrave, the big blow a two-run triple off the right-field wall by designated hitter Adrian Beltre. Musgrave’s first big mistake was issuing a leadoff walk to Delino Deshields, who then advance to second on Jurickson Profar’s hitand-run single. Then Musgrave left a ball over the plate that Beltre nearly hit out of the yard. Rougned Odor’s sacrifice fly to right gave Texas a security run.
Musgrave pitched because Adam Ottavino, the usual choice for that point in the game, was unavailable Saturday. He pitched Friday in his first game back from the disabled list.
But, really, the game shouldn’t have come down to the fateful eighth inning. Colorado had a chance to ice the game in the seventh but couldn’t do it.
“You try to keep pushing and keep telling yourself that you will still win the game,” right fielder Carlos Gonzalez said of the change in momentum. “But in baseball, it’s sometimes going to go that way when you don’t make them pay. Then they get a big inning going.”
Already leading 2-0, the Rockies had Texas starter Mike Minor on the ropes in the seventh inning but couldn’t deliver a knockout punch. Ian Desmond led off with a single, and Tom Murphy followed with a double to left. But Gonzalez’s popout to center was too shallow to score Desmond. Chris Iannetta drew a walk to load the bases, but Noel Cuevas’ flyball to center was, again, too shallow to chase home a run. Colorado’s empty threat ended when DJ Lemahieu grounded out to third.
“Cargo just didn’t quite get that one deep enough, and Iannetta had a good at-bat to load the bases,” manager Bud Black said. “But Cuevas missed on a pitch that looked like it was hittable. He just didn’t square it up, and then DJ hit it sharply to third. But give (Minor) credit. He battled.”
Naturally, the Rangers responded by tying the game 2-2 in the bottom of the frame. Odor ripped a triple to right-center off Freeland and scored on Isiah Kiner-falefa’s double to right. Freeland got the next two batters, but No. 9 hitter Jose Trevino came through with an RBI single under the glove of the diving Nolan Arenado at third. It was the first hit, and first RBI, of Trevino’s career.
Freeland deserved a better fate. Over seven innings, he allowed two runs on eight hits, struck out three and walked only one.
“I felt like I was throwing my fastball really well on both sides of the plate,” Freeland said. “I think that got me a lot of weak contact.”
Colorado scratched out a run in the second inning to post a 1-0 lead. Desmond walked, advanced to second on a balk and scored on Gonzalez’s chopped single up the middle. It was an excellent sixpitch at-bat by Gonzalez.
The lead grew to 2-0 in the sixth inning when Arenado’s sacrifice fly scored Lemahieu.