August 21st 2024.
Austin Gomber's performance on Tuesday night against the Nationals was nothing short of outstanding. It's hard to find just one word to describe it - dominating, commanding, terrific - they all fit. Gomber was on fire, leading the Rockies to a 3-1 victory in Washington, D.C.
Rockies manager Bud Black spoke highly of Gomber, saying, "He's a pitcher who knows how to use all of his stuff. He's the kind of guy you can rely on." And Gomber certainly proved that on the mound, utilizing his confounding curveball to keep the Nationals' batters at bay for all seven innings. His only mistake was giving up a leadoff homer in the sixth, but it was a small blemish on an otherwise flawless performance.
In total, Gomber only allowed three hits, struck out five, and walked two. He was also efficient, throwing 96 pitches with 63 of them being strikes. This was the second time in his career that he pitched seven innings and allowed three hits or fewer. Black praised Gomber's entire mix of pitches, saying, "The fastball had good location, the slider was working, and his curve was on point. He did a great job against the lefties, utilizing his slider and curve, and also had a strong fastball against the righties. Gomby has been consistent all year, with a few bumps along the way, but overall, he's been fantastic."
Gomber, who made his 24th start of the season, currently holds a 4-8 record with a 4.64 ERA and has recorded nine quality starts. The Rockies' bullpen also backed him up, with Tyler Kinley pitching a scoreless eighth inning and rookie Angel Chivilli closing out the game for his first career save.
The Rockies also received offensive sparks from two players who were in need of a boost. Ryan McMahon delivered an RBI single in the first inning, and Nolan Jones, who just came off the injured list, had an RBI single of his own in the sixth. A throwing error by the Nationals' third baseman allowed the Rockies to score another run and secure the win.
Unfortunately, there was some concern for reliever Victor Vodnik, who was out of the lineup due to shoulder soreness. Black assured reporters that Vodnik would be evaluated and that the team would take a cautious approach with his injury, saying, "This is his first full season, so it's not surprising that he might have some arm issues. We want to make sure he's fully recovered before putting him back on the field."
In other news, right-hander Ryan Feltner is making progress in his recovery from a right shoulder strain. He is scheduled to start for Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday, and the team will assess his performance before deciding on his next steps.
The Rockies will face the Nationals again on Wednesday, with Tanner Gordon taking the mound for Colorado and Mitchell Parker for Washington. Gordon has struggled in his rookie season, but has shown potential with a few strong performances. Parker, on the other hand, has had ups and downs, most recently giving up nine runs in his last start against the Phillies. However, he did have a solid outing against the Rockies earlier this season, so it will be an interesting matchup to watch. The Rockies will then head to New York to take on the Yankees in a three-game series.
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