Colorado Rockies can't come back after falling behind early, lose 5-4

The Rockies offense came up just shy in a 5-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners. Both teams kept it close until the end but the Rockies were unable to recover after a rough start from starting pitcher Jordan Lyles.

Lyles had his worst outing of the spring, going just an inning and a third, allowing three earned runs. Lyles was able to work himself out of an early first inning jam, but wasn’t as lucky in the second. After allowing two straight walks, Brad Miller lined a two-run double to right field. Lyles was replaced by Richard Castillo following that hit, and Seattle quickly followed up with a sacrifice fly to take a 3-0 lead. Keep in mind, Lyles was on a two-inning limit since he will be making his regular season start on short rest. Lyles only threw 41 pitches and should be ready to go for his start on Tuesday.

J.A. Happ held the Rockies in check during the four innings he pitched, striking out four and scattering two hits. The Rockies got on the board in the fifth with RBI singles from Charlie Blackmon, Troy Tulowitzki, and Carlos Gonzalez.

Christian Bergman, who is going to start the season in the Rockies bullpen, came on in relief to throw two innings, giving up two hits and one earned run. Adam Ottavino came on in the sixth inning and struck out the side to bring his spring total to 13 strike outs. Ottavino has yet to give up a run this spring over seven and a third innings.

Veteran pitcher LaTroy Hawkins pitched the eighth, allowing a line drive home run to center field off the bat of minor leaguer Gabriel Guerrero. Hawkins has had a rough spring so far, allowing 13 hits, including two home runs, in just six and a third innings. LaTroy’s struggles puts a bigger spotlight on the closer role, as there are a handful of possible candidates to take over in Rafael Betancourt, Adam Ottavino, and John Axford.

Daniel Descalso, who came on to play first base in the sixth inning, brought the Rockies back within a run with an RBI single in the eighth inning.

Paul Fry came on in the ninth to close out the ball game, putting the Rockies down in order.

The Rockies finish off spring training tomorrow with a rematch against the Mariners in Scottsdale at 12:10 MST.