Tyler Matzek throws shutout in Rockies' 3-0 win over Padres

Seventy-five strikes, 28 balls. That, folks, is how you accomplish the unaccomplishable: a shutout at Coors Field.

Rockies left-hander Tyler Matzek allowed only three hits and a walk en route to the team's first complete-game shutout since 2011, when Ubaldo Jimenez kept the Dodgers off the board in Los Angeles. The 23-year-old rookie induced 12 ground-ball outs and kept the Padres off-balance all night in what might be the highlight of the Rockies' season thus far.

Colorado's offense gave Matzek all the support he needed in the 3-0 victory. In fact, Drew Stubbs' first-inning home run was enough, but Charlie Blackmon's 64th run batted in out of the leadoff spot -- which leads all of baseball -- and Nolan Arenado's solo homer served as more than enough insurance.

Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu led the Rockies with two hits apiece. All nine Colorado players who appeared in the game reached base at least once.

Matzek is the first Rockies pitcher to toss a shutout at Coors Field since Jhoulys Chacin did it in May of 2011, and he's just the 18th hurler in franchise history to accomplish the feat regardless of venue. Friday marked the ninth instance in which a Colorado pitcher threw nine or more scoreless innings while allowing three or fewer hits.

The four baserunners allowed by Matzek is tied for the fourth-fewest total by a Rockies pitcher in an effort of nine or more innings.

TL;DR version: Tyler Matzek had one of the best pitching performances in the history of the franchise on Friday. We're not worthy.

Source: FanGraphs