Taking a page from the books of other Wild Card rivals, the Colorado Rockies decided to score four runs in the first inning en route to a 6-0 win over the Miami Marlins. That offensive outburst backed a great start by Tyler Anderson, who threw seven shutout innings. Only two Marlins runners got to scoring position all night as Anderson and the bullpen were exemplary.
Perhaps there was a bit of scoreboard watching going on as the Milwaukee Brewers jumped to a four run lead in the bottom of the first inning over the Cincinnati Reds, but gladly the Rockies followed suit. Charlie Blackmon drew a leadoff walk off of Marlins starting pitcher Jose Urena. DJ LeMahieu’s single put runners on first and third for Carlos Gonzalez, who grounded into a double play that still managed to score Blackmon, giving the Rockies the first run of the game. Subsequent singles by Nolan Arenado and Mark Reynolds put two runners on for Trevor Story who crushed a ball into the bullpen area for a three run home run. The Rockies were winning 4-0 after just one inning when they had recently gone through a road trip where they had problems scraping together four runs in a single series.
Arenado tacked on two runs in the fifth inning with a home run to center field, which scored Gonzalez who had led off the inning with a double. Staked to an early four run lead, and later a six run lead, that was all that Tyler Anderson needed. He threw seven shutout innings, allowing only four hits and no walks while striking out five batters.
Chris Rusin came on in the eighth inning to throw a perfect frame, striking out Justin Bour after inducing two groundouts. Mike Dunn entered the game in the ninth and closed the door, striking out two batters of his own. He did allow a double to Giancarlo Stanton, which is like getting a normal major leaguer to hit a weak tapper to third base, so we won’t hold that against him.
The Rockies go for the series win tomorrow against the Marlins. Jon Gray (9-4) will be going for his tenth win in what should be his last start before the Wild Card game. He will be facing left hander Adam Conley (7-7). The first pitch at Coors Field is scheduled for 1:10 PM MST. The Rockies currently hold a one and a half game lead over the Brewers. If the St. Louis Cardinals maintain their lead during tonight’s game with the Chicago Cubs, the Rockies will still hold a two and a half game lead over them.