Colorado Rockies starting pitching lets them down again in 9-1 loss to Arizona

Entering Wednesday's game in Arizona, Jordan Lyles was really the only Rockies starter without an outing that would be considered poor, or at least the only one without a start that easily could have been disastrous.

That is not the case anymore as Lyles allowed seven runs, six earned, on eight hits with five walks and just one strikeout as the Rockies dropped a 9-1 decision to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Through 21 games, the Rockies starting pitching has been a problem, there is no real other way to put it. The starters have averaged roughly 5⅓ innings per start with a 5.12 ERA, second worst in the National League, and a disastrous 1.67 WHIP.

The cause of the issue becomes obvious when looking at the Rockies' starters lack of strikeouts and abundance of walks issued. Colorado's starting staff is issuing 4.7 walks per nine innings while striking out just 5.9 batters per nine innings, both numbers rating at or near the bottom of the league.

As poor as Lyles was, he got essentially no help from his offense, as the lone run the Rockies scored in eight innings against Diamondbacks starter Josh Collmenter was unearned. The Rockies produced just five hits in the games, did not draw a walk and struck out six times.

Believe it or not, the Rockies scored first, getting a run against Collmenter in the top of the first thanks to a two-out double from Troy Tulowitzki. Tulowitzki advanced to third on an error by second baseman Chris Owings that allowed Justin Morneau to reach base. Nolan Arenado then produced a base hit to score Tulowitzki and give the Rockies a 1-0 lead.

Arizona took the lead from the Rockies in the bottom of the inning, scoring a pair of runs thanks to three singles and an error to take a 2-1 lead.

The game stayed at 2-1 until the bottom of the fifth when Lyles walked the bases loaded before surrendering a two-run single to Yasmany Tomas and a three-run home run to former Rockie Jordan Pacheco, giving the Diamondbacks a 7-1 lead.

The Rockies looked to be mounting a rally in the top of the sixth, with a one out double from Corey Dickerson followed by a single by Tulowitzki. However, Dickerson ran through third base coach Stu Cole's stop sign and was thrown out at the plate by David Peralta on Tulowitzki's single for the second out. Justin Morneau then ended the inning on what would have been a sacrifice fly to left.

Arizona added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth against Rockies relievers Christian Friedrich and Boone Logan to secure the 9-1 victory.

A day off awaits the Rockies Thursday before opening a series at San Diego on Friday. Eddie Butler will face Ian Kennedy in the series opener at 8:10 p.m. Mountain time Friday.
Source: FanGraphs