Split with Astros shows real hope for Rocktober
If the split of their series against the world champion Astros proved anything, it’s that the Rockies weren’t the only team being gauged over two nights of hard-nosed play at Coors Field this week.
“We thought this was going to be a good test for us going against a good team, but on the other hand, in talking to (Houston manager) AJ (Hinch), they know our talent, too,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “And it was good to see Tyler (Anderson) and Jon (Gray) respond to two all-star pitchers in (Gerrit) Cole and (Charlie) Morton.”
Anderson and Gray combined to surrender just four hits and two earned runs in their two starts. Houston won the opener Monday, 8-2 in extra innings, before Colorado rebounded with a 3-2 victory Wednesday night via Charlie Blackmon’s walk-off home run.
Although Houston’s pitchers tamed the Rockies’ offense, the first home series of the second half underscored that the Rockies have legitimate hopes of playing in October. Colorado is just 1½ games back in the crowded National League West entering play Thursday night.
“We played them pretty tough — I would have liked to see a few more runs scored, but I thought our pitching did really well,” Blackmon said. “It’s good to show ourselves we can go out and beat a good team if we play well.”
The lone blight for the Rockies of an otherwise well-played series was the six-run 10th that the Astros uncorked on Wade Davis and Yency Almonte on Tuesday, with Davis getting torched for five runs. But Davis,
preceded by another strong performance by setup man Adam Ottavino, redeemed himself Wednesday night with a scoreless ninth that earned him his first win this season with Blackmon’s walk-off blast.
The short series painted a picture of an improving Colorado club that trudged through the first three months of the season but has now turned a corner. Against the deep, talented and postseason-seasoned Astros, the Rockies held their ground.
Black has repeatedly harped on the importance of all 25 Rockies contributing, and Wednesday it was Blackmon wearing the cape for Colorado, although Raimel Tapia’s hustle tag play from third on a popout in foul territory, and Carlos Gonzalez’s early game home run set the table for the walk-off.
“This is what it’s all about,” Gonzalez said. “These are the types of games that decide if you’re going to be a good team or not. We won the series in Arizona, we split with the defending champions — now we’ve got to continue to push in a playoff atmosphere over the next couple months.”
Colorado (54-47) won’t have to wait long for its next gut-check, considering Oakland (60-43) comes into town for a three-game series starting Friday.
The A’s have won 12 of their last 15 games.
“The dog days are approaching us, where the teams that are in it can sense they’re in it, and the teams that are sort of scuffling, it’s a little bit of a tough go for them,” Black said. “There’s a heightened feeling amongst players, coaches, managers and fans once you get into this part of the season and you’re in it. It’s awesome.
“And, hey — September’s even better.”