Editor’s note: Purple Row’s core principle is to create a welcoming space for Rockies fans to read what they can’t read anywhere else, write for a built-in audience of fellow Rockies fans, and discuss all things Rockies baseball with everyone else who comes through. That’s why we’re called a community. To that end, this year we’re going to focus our postgame coverage on the conversational component of that principle. Purple Row’s talented stable of writers will still offer more involved posts from the more memorable and frustrating games this season, but instead of the game stories we’ve done in the past, we’re going to have shorter, and we hope more fun, postgame articles. They’ll include short snippets about the emotions the games elicited, the heroes that emerged in key moments, and the goats that faltered in the same.
We hope you like them, and we hope they’ll start a conversation.
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The Colorado Rockies put together a solid all-around game as they defeated the San Diego Padres on Monday night. The pitching kept some San Diego rallies at bay, and the offense scored enough runs early and then put up some insurance runs late to turn this one into a 7-4 win.
Ian Desmond has a big night
Maybe the Padres had a scouting report for Ian Desmond but were confused when they didn’t recognize the Rockies’ first baseman who came to the plate. Maybe Desmond wanted his mustache to serve as a disguise and it worked. Or maybe Desmond really is seeing the ball better, hitting fewer groundballs and hitting the ball harder.
We’ll see how he fares against pitching that isn’t the Padres, but early returns for the Rockies’ well-paid first baseman are looking good. He delivered an opposite-field RBI double and a two-run home run in this one to lead the Rockies’ offense.
Charlie Blackmon has another MVP night
The Padres had Chad Bettis on the ropes early in this one. Wil Myers drove one to the warning track with the bases loaded and Blackmon made a beautiful catch to rob him and end the inning. Blackmon then blasted a home run in the ninth inning ahead of his buddy DJ LeMahieu, who did the same as the Rockies stretched their lead. Just another superstar showing from Chuck Nazty.
Chad Bettis escapes, twice
He deserves credit for battling and limiting the damage, but Bettis didn’t really look sharp. He fought his command and had to escape two bases loaded situations. He did enough to get the win, but with four walks and a home run surrendered over five innings, he almost let this one get away from him.
Nothing like a solid road win
The Rockies scored seven runs, including contributions from key players like Desmond and Carlos González. That’s a welcome sight in an early road game for a team that needs to consistently score more runs, especially away from Coors Field, to contend this season.
Looking ahead
This was the first of four games in San Diego this week. The series continues tomorrow night as Kyle Freeland takes the mound opposite Tyson Ross.