Rockies and Mets split the doubleheader

Game 1: Mets 4, Rockies 3

After being snowed out on Friday, the first game in the series against the visiting New York Mets became Game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The sun finally shined on Coors Field, with the temperature at a balmy 45 degrees. It seemed like a perfect day to snap a six-game losing streak. As is often the case with the Colorado Rockies, things did not go as planned. The Rockies lost to the Mets 4-3 to start the doubleheader, and extended their losing streak to seven.

The bullpen wastes a solid start from Chi Chi González

Chi Chi González doesn’t often seem to pitch more than five innings, but that works just fine in a doubleheader. This afternoon he was solid on the mound in his second start of the season, holding the Mets to just one run during his outing. He allowed six hits, but walked just one batter and struck out three. Chi Chi exceeded expectations to keep the Rockies in the fight to try and snap their six-game losing streak.

Once his night was over, Mychal Givens allowed solo shot from Mets slugger Pete Alonso to put the game within one run in relief, but the Rockies made it into the top of the seventh with a save situation, and then it all went wrong. Closer Daniel Bard allowed four straight base hits including a double to ultimately give the Mets a 4-3 victory.

deGrom got absolutely deGrommed (until he didn’t...)

Jacob deGrom is one of the best pitchers in baseball; there’s no doubt about that. He was rolling today, but got very little in terms of run support from his teammates. One of the Mets’ two runs through six innings was himself, reaching with a single and eventually making it home.

deGrom carved up the Rockies’ batters through most of the game. At one point he had struck out nine consecutive batters, just one under tying the major league record set by Tom Seaver in 1970. The two-time Cy Young winner recorded 14 of his 18 outs by way of the strikeout, with the three runs allowed being listed as unearned due to a fielding error. The Rockies were able to capitalize on the error to rally for the lead in the fifth inning. Unfortunately, deGrom walked away with the win when the Rockies bullpen imploded.

A fifth inning rally puts victory within reach.

Josh Fuentes reaching first on a fielding error in the fifth inning kickstarted a Rockies offense that had been held to just two baserunners up through that point. A Dom Nuñez triple brought Fuentes across and put the Rockies on the board. Nuñez was then brought home on a Yonathan Daza sac fly, before Raimel Tapia capped the inning off with a golfing solo home run to give the Rockies a 3-1 lead heading into the sixth inning. Unfortunately that lead didn’t last, but it made for some of the more fun and exciting baseball in the Rockies’ last few games.

★ ★ ★

Game 2: Rockies 7, Mets 2

The Colorado Rockies did something tonight that they haven’t done in nine days...they won a ballgame! Big first and fifth innings by the Rockies offense provided enough run support for Germán Márquez to cruise to a comfortable victory in Game 2 of this doubleheader. It was a resilient bounce back from the team after a disappointing loss in Game 1 that saw defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.

First inning ambush

The Colorado Rockies were clearly thrilled to see a pitcher not throwing in the upper 90s and jumped on Joey Lucchesi early. The first five batters of the night all hit the ball hard and when the dust settled, the Rockies had plated three runs in the opening frame. The early lead was a welcome change of pace for the Rockies and Germán Márquez was certainly a fan.

Germán Márquez looks sharp

Márquez was perfect through the first three innings, looking better than he has at any point in this young season. In the fourth inning, two hits and a walk resulted in two runs for the Mets, but Márquez was able to recover, putting up zeros the rest of the way in route to a seven-inning complete game. He finished the game allowing only two runs on two hits and striking out six.

Josh Fuentes had himself a night

Josh Fuentes’ three-run homer in the fifth gave the fans taco’s and the Rockies a five run lead. Fuentes had four RBI on the night to go along with another stellar defensive game at the hot corner. With Ryan McMahon off to a strong start, Fuentes and CJ Cron will be looking at potentially diminished playing time when Brendon Rodgers returns from his injury and Fuentes is making his case for keeping his everyday status in the lineup.

Coming up next:

The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a high in the 50s for a Sunday afternoon series finale. Antonio Senzatela will look to rebound after getting roughed up by the Dodgers back in California. The Mets’ starter is a formidable foe in Marcus Stroman, who has allowed just one run through 12 innings for an ERA of just 0.75. First pitch is at 1:10pm MT.