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The Colorado Rockies avoided the sweep today behind a strong performance from Jorge De La Rosa and some much-needed life from the offense. Jorge De La Rosa was terrific while making history, becoming the winningest pitcher in Rockies' history with 73 as he broke his tie with Aaron Cook. De La Rosa also holds the franchise lead for career strikeouts, a record he set earlier in the season.
The Rockies got things going early when Charlie Blackmon belted a 2-2 pitch over the right field wall for his eighth home run of the season and his eighth career leadoff home run. Troy Tulowitzki drew a walk with one out and scored when Nolan Arenado drove a 2-2 pitch over the left-center field wall for his sixteenth of the year, giving the Rockies an early 3-1 lead.
Dee Gordon singled to start the bottom of the first, but was picked off trying to take second. Prado reached on an error by Arenado — Nolan didn't have a great day in the field for once — but was removed from the game after spraining his shoulder. Yelich walked to put runners on first and second, but De La Rosa got Giancarlo Stanton to line out and struck out Marcell Ozuna to end the inning.
Jorge De La Rosa picked up his second K of the night in the bottom of the third, striking out Dee Gordon. Donovan Solano, who replaced Martin Prado, reached on a second error by Nolan Arenado, but nothing would come of it as De La Rosa retired both Yelich and Stanton.
The next few innings were pretty uneventful, with the highlight being a beautiful diving grab by Brandon Barnes in foul territory to retire Gordon in the fifth.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here it is. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuperBarnes?src=hash">#SuperBarnes</a>! <a href="http://t.co/Jg4wv0I1LC">http://t.co/Jg4wv0I1LC</a> <a href="http://t.co/RSwABr45Wm">pic.twitter.com/RSwABr45Wm</a></p>— #VoteRox (@Rockies) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rockies/status/610158511696166912">June 14, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Rockies added to their early lead in the seventh inning. Nick Hundley got on base with a leadoff walk and advanced to third when Barnes singled. Charlie Blackmon was intentionally walked after De La Rosa grounded out to load the bases. The Marlins brought in Steve Cishek to face DJ LeMahieu. The latter grounded into a force out, scoring Hundley and taking first. LeMahieu stole second and Tulo drew a walk to load the bases with two outs, but Cishek struck out CarGo to end the inning
Miami scored one of their own in the bottom of the seventh. Jeff Baker drew a leadoff walk before De La Rosa got two outs. Ichiro singled, driving in J.T. Realmuto, and Dee Gordon followed with a single of his own to put two runners on. Weiss stuck with De La Rosa and the latter repaid the former's faith by inducing a groundout. I'm glad Walt let him stay in, as De La Rosa has definitely earned the right to stick in. Really nice day for a guy who has been a workhorse for the club
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jorge is done for the day. SOLID start: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R-ER, 4 BB, 4 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/whiff?src=hash">#whiff</a>'s, 109 pitches (67 strikes) <a href="http://t.co/Iy291DsODy">pic.twitter.com/Iy291DsODy</a></p>— #VoteRox (@Rockies) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rockies/status/610171641469997056">June 14, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Boone Logan was brought in to face Christian Yelich in the eighth and got him to ground out. Logan was then replaced by Tommy Kahnle, who retired Ozuna and pinch-hitter Justin Bour after allowing a single to Giancarlo Stanton.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">'Pen pals Boone Logan and Tommy Kahnle combine to pitch a big, scoreless 8th. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/letsgooo?src=hash">#letsgooo</a> <a href="http://t.co/LUqX3hEDBk">pic.twitter.com/LUqX3hEDBk</a></p>— #VoteRox (@Rockies) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rockies/status/610175049736138752">June 14, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
John Axford was brought in for the save and shut the door on the Marlins, giving him his twelfth of the season. Congratulations to Jorge De La Rosa on the win and for breaking the tie to become the franchise's winningest pitcher.