A three-run eighth inning gave the Rockies the insurance they needed and helped them to a 5-1 win over the Mets on Friday. Reigning NL Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom started for the Mets and struck out 10 in six innings, but the two runs he allowed were one more than his team scored on the night.
The game was tight until the eighth when the Rockies got a two-run home run from David Dahl and a solo shot from Daniel Murphy to make a 2-1 game a 5-1 game, giving Scott Oberg and Wade Davis some cushion as they closed out the game.
No Ks? No problem.
Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela did not strike out a batter in his six innings of work, but that did not stop him from being effective. Senzatela allowed just one run on four hits in those six innings with a pair of walks. He threw 87 pitches, 53 for strikes. The outing, while not the most conventional, dropped his ERA for the season to a respectable 4.95 and was enough to secure the Rockies a win.
Mucho Swagger
Still in the leadoff spot thanks to Charlie Blackmon’s long day of travel, left fielder Raimel Tapia provided a spark for the Rockies offense. He went 2-for-5 on the night with an RBI double that brought home Tony Wolters to get the Rockies on the board against deGrom and singled, stole a base and scored on Dahl’s home run in the three-run eighth.
With Blackmon’s return, Tapia’s role will likely be less full-time than it has been, but he has proven himself a valuable component in this Rockies offense.
Looking ahead
The Rockies will look to secure a series win and guarantee no worse than a .500 road trip tomorrow at Citi Field. Jon Gray will take the mound for the Rockies against New York’s Steven Matz in a game broadcast regionally on FOX. First pitch is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Mountain time.