The Sim Rockies offense woke from their slumber on Thursday afternoon, steamrolling the Diamondbacks by a score 14-3. Five Rockies hit home runs, including pitcher Chi Chi González, who also went five innings allowing three runs. On Thursday the Rockies nearly matched their total run scoring output over the previous seven games (15).
Everybody digs the long ball
Despite what Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine thought in the late-90’s, everybody digs the long ball, and the Rockies delivered on Thursday. The Diamondbacks got in on the action, too, but a pair of two-run dongers from Elias Diaz and Trevor Story put the Rockies up 4-1 in the bottom of the second. Then, with the Rockies up 5-2 in the fourth, Chi Chi ran into one for his first career big league home run.
Sure, Ryan McMahon hit a three-run #RyMacJack in the sixth, and Garrett Hampson added his third round tripper of the season in the eighth to make it 14-3 and give sim fans double taco’s (which is totally a thing Taco Bell should do, if we’re being honest). In total, five Rockies hit home runs, accounting for 10 of the team’s 14 runs on the day.
More than just big blasts
The Rockies had nine other hits on the day that didn’t go over the fence. Charlie Blackmon and Diaz got in on the action with doubles, each finishing with three hits on the day. Hampson was the star of the show, going 4-for-5 with three runs, three RBI, and a home run. He’s now hitting .297/.392/.500 on the season, forcing a conversation about whether he should be the everyday centerfielder.
Pitching, too!
As detailed earlier this week, good pitching tends to lead to wins. Chi Chi wasn’t spectacular on the mound by any means today, allowing three runs on six hits with with four walks (!) over five innings. But Antonio Senzatela was able to come in and pitch the last four innings of the game, earning himself a rather unconventional save by allowing just three hits and no runs over those four innings.
Up Next
The Rockies will host the Sim Pittsburgh Pirates for a three game set starting Friday. Newly minted ace (I kid, I kid) Evan Grills (2-0, 1.38 ERA) will start opposite Mitch Keller (3-6, 5.50 ERA). This game WILL be broadcast on YouTube Premiere.