Noah Spirek | @NoahSpirek | July 7, 2024
After scoring just three runs in the first two games of the series, Royals fans everywhere are wondering if Coors Field is secretly a pitcher’s haven.
Game Story
On Saturday night, the Rockies opened the scoring with a two-spot in the second inning. Leading off the inning, Brendan Rodgers reached on an error, setting up the hottest hitter in the Rockies lineup, Brenton Doyle.
Doyle, who entered the game 10-for-15 over his last four games, continued his roll with a two-run homer. He sat back on a 1-1 slider from Royals starter Seth Lugo and crushed it 408 feet into the Rockies bullpen.
Colorado extended their lead in the fifth via a Ryan McMahon RBI single. McMahon came through with two outs after Sam Hilliard had led off the inning with a single add stolen base. The two-out hit gave him his club-leading 45th RBI, and bolstered the Rockies lead to 3-0.
Kansas City finally broke through on the scoreboard in the sixth. With two outs, Vinnie Pasquantino slugged his 11th homer of the year 434 feet for a solo shot, cutting the Rockies lead to 3-1.
Fortunately for Colorado, that was the final tally of the ballgame, as they went on to win.
The key on Saturday was undoubtedly the performance of starter Austin Gomber, who worked in-and-out of jams on his way to throwing seven innings of one-run baseball, allowing six hits (no walks) and striking out three.
The bullpen posted two more zeros behind a scoreless eighth inning from Tyler Kinley and a shutout ninth from Victor Vodnik, who recorded the first save of his career.
Quotes
Manager Bud Black on Austin Gomber’s performance: “He was fired up. That was a good one. That was a really good game, and in a tight game against maybe the All-Star starter for the American League (Seth Lugo)… He’s having a great year, and ‘Gomby’ out-pitched him.”
Austin Gomber on his start: “I thought I had a really good fastball today. A good curveball. Threw some good sliders at times. The change-up was kind of lost early on; threw some later in the fourth and fifth inning, but really I thought it was the fastball / curveball that carried it for me today.”
Brenton Doyle on his hot hitting: “I’m just doing a really good job with the game plan for the guy I’m about to face and executing.” On the homer: “I was just trying to get something up in the zone, and he hung one up there and I put a good swing on it.”
Notes
Saturday’s performance secured Austin Gomber his second win of the season, and his first since May 15 at San Diego. On the season, he is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA (41.1 IP, 15 ER) in seven starts at Coors Field this season.
Brenton Doyle has gone 11-for-17 with four doubles, four home runs, nine RBI, four walks and one stolen bases over his last five games.
Ryan McMahon recorded his seventh three-plus hit game of the season on Saturday.
What’s Next for the Colorado Rockies?
On Sunday, the Rockies will look to complete the sweep of the Kansas City Royals. Probable starters are RHP Brady Singer (4-5, 3.05 ERA) for Kansas City and RHP Tanner Gordon (MLB Debut) for Colorado. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 MT.
Story by Noah Spirek.
Brought to you by…
Leave a Reply