August 29th 2024.
The Rockies' bottom third of the batting order has been struggling to produce runs lately, and that's putting it lightly. However, in a game against the Marlins at Coors Field on Wednesday night, they stepped up big time. Ninth hole hitter Aaron Shunk, who rarely starts at second base, went 2-for-3 and hit his first career home run. Not bad for a rookie who came into the game batting .148. Catcher Drew Romo, who was batting eighth, also had a great night, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. He had been struggling with a .158 batting average. Left fielder Nolan Jones, who had a low .208 average, also contributed with a 2-for-3 performance and a walk, driving in runs in both the third and sixth innings.
The Marlins had a rough night, committing four errors which helped the Rockies secure an 8-2 win. Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar added to the Rockies' lead with a two-run double in the eighth inning. This put the game out of reach for the struggling Marlins, who currently sit at the bottom of their division. Meanwhile, Rockies' starter Kyle Freeland did what he does best, keeping the opposing team off-balance for six innings and making crucial outs when needed.
For instance, in the fifth inning, the Marlins had a chance to score with a runner on second and one out. But Freeland's wicked slider struck out the next batter and he got the following one to ground out. Overall, Freeland had a solid performance, only allowing six hits, striking out five, and walking one. In fact, at Coors Field, he has an impressive 3.74 ERA in eight starts. With this win, Freeland now has 59 career victories, surpassing Jason Jennings for the fifth-most in franchise history.
After a heartbreaking loss the previous night, the Rockies were hoping for a smoother ride from their bullpen. And rookie right-hander Jeff Criswell delivered, pitching two scoreless innings and striking out five batters. Anthony Molina also pitched a scoreless ninth to seal the win for the Rockies.
The Marlins got on the board first with a leadoff home run by Derek Hill in the second inning. But the Rockies quickly tied it up in the bottom of the frame, thanks to a leadoff walk and a single by Brenton Doyle and Nolan Jones, respectively. In the third inning, the Rockies took the lead due to Miami's sloppy defense, with Romo scoring on an error by Marlins' pitcher Max Meyer.
The Marlins tied the game again in the fourth inning, but the Rockies regained the lead in the bottom of the frame and never looked back. Overall, it was a strong performance by the Rockies, both offensively and defensively, with the Marlins' errors certainly helping their cause.
Looking ahead, the Rockies will face the Marlins again on Thursday, with rookie right-hander Bradley Blalock making his fourth career start for the Rockies. He's coming off a solid outing against the Yankees, where he earned his first big-league win. On the other hand, the Marlins will send 24-year-old Valente Bellozo to the mound, who will be making his eighth career start and his first against the Rockies. The Rockies will then face the Orioles over the weekend, with Austin Gomber, Ryan Feltner, and Ryan Castellani taking the mound.
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