August 28th 2024.
Can you believe the wild game that went down at Coors Field on Tuesday night? The Rockies were leading Miami 8-4 going into the ninth inning, but then they suffered a heartbreaking loss of 9-8 when the Marlins scored five runs off shaky relievers Tyler Kinley and Angel Chivilli.
It was a tough pill to swallow, and definitely a fish story for the books. Kinley gave up a bases-loaded, two-run double to Miami's designated hitter Jake "Smash" Burger, and then Chivilli was hit hard by Jesus Sanchez who blasted a game-winning three-run homer.
But before the bullpen collapse, the star of the night was none other than Ezequiel Tovar. The young shortstop for the Rockies had an incredible performance, hitting two home runs in the first and second innings, followed by a double in the fourth, and even a sacrifice fly to the right-field wall in the sixth.
Tovar's three-hit night marked his 81st multi-hit game before the age of 24, tying him with Rockies legend Carlos Gonzalez for the fifth-most in franchise history. It was truly a standout performance.
And let's not forget about the Rockies' strong start against Miami's right-hander, Rod Munzon. Charlie Blackmon kicked things off with a 452-foot homer that reached the first row in the third deck above right field. It was not only his ninth homer of the season, but also the ninth-longest of his 14-year career.
Then, Tovar stepped up to the plate and crushed a 456-foot homer to left-center, making it the fourth time in franchise history that the Rockies have opened a game with back-to-back homers.
But here's where things get really interesting. Blackmon, who is 38 years old, and Tovar, who is only 23, have a 15-year and 31-day age gap between them. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is the largest age difference between a team's first and second batters of a game who both hit a home run since 1900. The previous record was 14 years and 325 days in 1939 for the Detroit Tigers.
But enough about age gaps and records, let's get back to the game. It was "Bark at the Park" night, which brought in a crowd of 20,284 to see the Rockies take on the Marlins, who are both currently at the bottom of the National League standings.
The Rockies' starting pitcher, Cal Quantrill, had a rough start but managed to hang tough throughout the game. He gave up four runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings, but still left the game with a 6-4 lead. Quantrill has consistently performed well at Coors Field this season, with a 4-3 record and a 4.26 ERA in 12 starts.
In the sixth inning, Sam Hilliard added to the Rockies' lead with a solo blast off Jonathan Bermudez, marking his fifth homer of the season. However, the game took a turn in the ninth inning when the Marlins' bats came alive and the Rockies' bullpen faltered.
In other news, left-handed pitcher Lucas Gilbreath is back on the injured list due to pain in his left shoulder and lat. Unfortunately, it looks like he may not pitch again this season, as he has only appeared in three games this year and has been struggling with his fastball velocity and slider.
The Rockies are hoping to avoid surgery for Gilbreath, but will explore all options to help him recover. On the bright side, rookie closer Victor Vodnik is making progress with his biceps injury and is expected to return to the mound before the end of the season.
Unfortunately, center fielder Brenton Doyle was out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive game due to left knee tendinitis. Both Doyle and manager Bud Black are confident that some rest will help ease the soreness and get him back in the lineup soon.
Looking ahead to Wednesday's game, the Marlins' right-hander Max Meyer will face off against the Rockies' left-hander Kyle Freeland. Freeland is coming off a tough loss against the Yankees, but has a good track record against Miami with a 2-0 record and a 3.60 ERA in six career starts.
Meyer, on the other hand, will be facing the Rockies for the first time in his career. The 25-year-old missed the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery, but has been solid in his last outing against the Cubs. He is known for inducing a lot of groundballs, ranking in the 81st percentile in the majors.
Overall, it was a wild and eventful game at Coors Field, and with the Rockies' Insider, you can stay up to date on all things Rockies. Sign up now for the latest news and analysis on your favorite team.
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