The second Sunday in May is a day dedicated to the women who brought us into the world. We spoil our mothers with cards, flowers, and, if we are lucky, a Colorado Rockies victory. I love seeing the pink-themed hats, jerseys, bats, and other equipment that adorns the players on the field each year as they celebrate the women who helped them get to where they are now.
Unfortunately, in their franchise history, the Rockies have struggled on the matriarch holiday and have become a team only a mother could love. In 27 matchups, the Rockies have compiled a dismal record of 10-17. In those games, the Rockies have been outscored 154-121, while also getting shut out on three separate occasions. They have had their fair share of issues, but as I did with Easter earlier this season, I want to focus on some of the highlights that have occurred on the holiday.
This one’s for you Mom
Mother’s Day 2017 was a special day for the Colorado Rockies as they took on the Dodgers at Coors Field. Antonio Senzatela, still in the earlier goings of his rookie campaign, took the hill against fellow young starter Julio Urías in a 9-6 victory over the Dodgers. The Rockies' offense was propelled by a Nolan Arenado home run along with a certain shortstop that contributed to the victory by hitting a pair of two-run homers. We all know and love him, it was the one and only Pat Valaika.
Senzatela snagged the win after battling through five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, and striking out five. However, the impact of the game goes beyond the box score for Senzatela. The young right-hander was pitching on Mother’s Day, less than a year since his own mother, Nidya, had passed away in Venezuela from cancer. A special day for a special arm that he won’t forget and there was no doubt he made his mother proud that day.
Duel against the San Diego Madres
It’s always a delightful surprise when the Rockies get into a pitchers duel. Mother’s Day 1994 provided such an event when the Rockies beat the Padres 1-0 in San Diego. David Neid took the hill for the Rockies against Andy Ashby, and both starters threw eight innings of shutout baseball with the Rockies scoring the lone run in the top of the ninth.
Eric Young tallied the winning run after coming in as a pinch-runner for the catcher Danny Sheaffer who drew a walk to lead off the inning. Mike Kingery eventually drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Young and won the game. Mothers are always trying to teach us patience, and the Rockies took that to heart and it paid off.
A bouquet of De La Rosa
The Rockies will take on the Cardinals on Mother’s Day this year, something they have done only once before back in 2013. Both teams were fairly even in terms of record at the time of their meeting, but the Cardinals were still a powerhouse of the National League Central that would go on to appear in the World Series against the Red Sox. However, the Mother’s Day luck was with the Rockies as they rolled to an 8-2 victory.
Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa cruised through seven innings allowing no runs on two hits with seven strikeouts. Troy Tulowitzki provided a boost for the time with his lone hit coming in the form of a three-run home run in the third inning. Charlie Blackmon would go 2-for-4 on the day with a two-run home run of his own, with Carlos González, Jordan Pacheco, and Nolan Arenado adding two hits apiece. The win was the first Mother’s Day victory for the Rockies since they beat the Marlins 3-2 in 2009.
Happy Mother’s Day
There are plenty of tidbits and special performances to pick out from the Rockies history of Mother’s Day games, more than can be included in this article. However, the Rockies will look to change their fortunes as they take on the Cardinals this Mother’s Day. Luckily for the players, win or lose, I think their moms will still be quite proud of them. Happy Mother’s Day!
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A Pitcher Never Forgot His Promise to His Mother | The New York Times ($)
Speaking of motherly influences, last week former Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jiménez announced on Instagram that he had graduated from Florida Tech with a degree in business administration and management. James Wagner recaps the career of Jiménez and the story of how his mother always wanted him to get an education. He decided to finish high school before signing with the Rockies at the age of 17, and then in 2017 he began taking classes online and quietly doing his homework in the midst of being a full-time baseball player.
Notes: Almonte working on mechanics | MLB.com
Thomas Harding gives some quick updates and notes on a couple of Rockies players, mainly Yency Almonte. The reliever is working back from an injury and trying to adjust mechanics that could help him regain his 2020 form. Almonte has struggled to a 12.46 ERA in 11 appearances, and with a bullpen that has been in disarray in 2021, a resurgent Almonte would be paramount for the Rockies to try and solidify one of their weakest spots.
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