Angels 8, Rockies 7: Angels deny the Rockies’ comeback

The Rockies were put in an unusual position when Chi Chi González was put on the COVID protocols list just a few hours before he was scheduled to make his start today. Bud Black and the coaching staff were forced to turn the game into a bullpen day. The bullpen had already lost a reliable arm in Mychal Givens to a trade so the sentiment going into today’s game was that this was going to be an uphill battle.

That did turn out to be the case as the Rockies relievers gave up ten hits and seven walks. Every reliever except Ben Bowden allowed at least a run. Bowden’s two hitless innings gave the Rockies enough momentum to tie the game but Carlos Estévez could not hold down the top of the ninth. The Rockies lose the three game series and now fall to 11-38 on the road and 44-58 overall.

Story time in Anaheim

Rumors have been swirling just about nonstop about the fate of Trevor Story at this year’s deadline. With that much constant speculation it’s fair to wonder if it ever gets to Trevor Story who’s already struggled this season. Well today Trevor Story showed us that it doesn’t seem to bother him that much, at least not enough to affect his power. Story took advantage of a poor pitch in the first inning from Angels starter Andrew Heaney and… well we all know how Trevor punishes pitchers.

That was Trevor’s 13th home run of the season and his 147th career home run, all of which have been in a Rockies uniform. What jersey will he be wearing when he hits number 148?

Elias Díaz shows off catcher speed

Elias Díaz hit cleanup for the first time this season tonight but instead of hitting another bomb he decided to work the bases the old fashioned way. He earned a leadoff walk in the fourth to get on but it was some savvy and speedy baserunning by the catcher that put him on third base as he beat the throw from Angels left fielder Justin Upton. He didn’t stop there as he was able to score by once again using his legs on a wild pitch by Andrew Heaney, just beating an errant throw from the Angels catcher Max Stassi.

Jesús Tinoco gives up three home runs

Shohei Ohtani continued his unprecedented season with his major league leading 37th home run that drove in three in the fourth inning off of Jesús Tinoco to put his team ahead. Tinoco had come in with two outs to face David Fletcher but lost control and hit him to face Ohtani who’d make him pay for it plus tax. The inning continued to unravel for Tinoco, who was making his 2021 season debut, as he gave up a single to Phil Gosselin and another home run to a struggling Justin Upton. Thankfully, Tinoco was able to get out of the inning thanks to Elias Díaz who gunned down José Iglesias attempting to steal second. Tinoco continued on in the next inning and gave up a third home run to the first batter he saw. The three home runs given up is the most Tinoco has allowed in his MLB career.

Rockies nearly complete the comeback

After Tinoco’s five runs allowed, Ben Bowden came into the game and shut down the Angels for two innings. This allowed the Rockies to begin a late inning rally that saw them score three runs in the top of the seventh inning. Raimel Tapia delivered a timely double just off the top of the center field wall to bring in two runs.

A couple batters later Steve Cishek would throw a wild pitch that would bring in Tapia from third to bring the Rockies within one run.

Then in the eighth with two runners on and two outs, Brendan Rodgers would tie the game with an RBI single to left field. However, the Angels would respond in their bottom half of the inning and score on a clutch Phil Gosselin single to put them back up by a run. Raisel Iglesias would shut down the ninth for the Angels. Comeback denied.

Up next

The Rockies will take a short trip from Los Angeles to San Diego to face the Padres for a four game series. Last time the Rockies visited San Diego they came away with their first series win on the road. Colorado will send out Kyle Freeland (1-5, 4.85 ERA) tomorrow and he’ll go up against Joe Musgrove (6-7, 3.13 ERA). First pitch is at 8:10 P.M. MDT.