Gomber outdueled by Cueto
Late walks spoil Rockies starter’s gem
When the Rockies play the Giants in San Francisco, their margin for error is usually thin. For the 2021 Rockies, it’s likely to be razor-thin.
So issuing walks in a tight game is a sin, and the Rockies committed seven deadly sins Friday afternoon, including four walks in the decisive seventh inning, en route to a 3-1 loss at Oracle Park.
“It’s very frustrating for ever ybody,” manager Bud Black said. “It’s frustrating when the pitchers beat themselves, via the walk. … In the big picture, just talking pitching, you have to be able to get the ball over the plate. And there have been a couple of games this year where we haven’t and it’s come back to cost us.”
Meanwhile, Giants veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto dominated Colorado. He came close to pitching the 17th complete game of his career and just missed a shutout.
In the ninth, Cueto gave up a pinch-hit triple to Chris Owings and a sacrifice fly by Garrett Hampson for Colorado’s lone run. A two-out single by Trevor Story brought erstwhile Rockies lefty Jake Mcgee into the game to face lefty Sam Hilliard. Mcgee, throwing a 97 mph fastball, struck out Hilliard for a three-pitch save.
“Overall, (Cueto) did ver y well at the bottom of the strike zone, and especially the outside corner to both lefties and righties,” Black said. “He changed speeds well and the fastball at the top of the zone played. It was nothing that surprised us. We knew what we were in for, he just executed.”
Rockies left-handed star ter Austin Gomber, needing a rebound performance, pitched a terrific game — up to the point when he walked Darin Ruf and Buster Posey in the seventh.
Into the game came right-handed reliever Tyler Kinley, who promptly walked Alex Dickerson to load the bases with one out. Left-handed hitter Brandon Crawford made the Rockies pay, ripping a two-run double to rightcenter for a 2-0 lead.
The Rockies don’t have a high-leverage lefty in their bullpen to match against left-handed hitters, so they rely on Kinley and his slider to get the job done.
“Tyler’s had a lot of success against lefties in his career, so let’s see how this entire season plays out,”
Today at Giants, 2:05 p.m. Gonzalez (1-0, 5.40) at Webb (0-1, 5.06), ATTRM
Sunday at Giants, 2:05 p.m. Marquez (0-0, 3.60) at Desclafani (0-0, 1.80), ATTRM
Off
Monday
Black said. “I still have a lot of faith in the slider against lefties and righties and I still have a lot of confidence in his fastball. Today he didn’t have it as far as his control.”
Kinley also walked Austin Slater, loading the bases again, before lefty Ben Bowden quashed the rally by striking out the lefthanded-hitting Mike Yastrzemski.
Gomber allowed just one hit in his 6 innings — an opposite-field jam shot to right by Posey in the fifth. Gomber struck out five and threw a career-high 104 pitches, but he did walk four.
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