Davis laser-focused in first career start

SEATTLE -- On Sunday afternoon, the T-Mobile Park crowd roared and hoped for history, but Rockies right-hander Noah Davis didn’t care.

Yes, Mariners starter Luis Castillo buzzed through Rockies hitters with potential perfect-game stuff. But Davis, in his first Major League start, was too busy mixing pitches through his own five scoreless innings, fighting to give the Rockies a chance in their 1-0 loss.

Castillo held Colorado without a baserunner until yielding consecutive singles to open the seventh. But Davis was too busy striking out five, against three hits and three walks.

“Honestly, I’m not paying attention to what the other guy is doing,” Davis said. “I’m just trying to stay focused on my job, keep making my pitches and rooting for our guys when they’re up to bat.”

The Rockies lost all three in Seattle and have dropped their last five. Still, Davis offered hope to a rotation missing Germán Márquez (right forearm strain) and are having a hard time finding competent innings beyond Kyle Freeland (0.96 ERA going into Monday night against the Pirates).

Called up late last season and given a relief inning in the final regular-season game, Davis went one inning and gave up two runs -- including a home run to the first hitter he faced, Cody Bellinger.

This year, the Rockies kept Davis in Major League camp for most of Spring Training to increase his comfort and knowledge. He appeared in 13 innings in Cactus League action, and had a 4.15 ERA, but his eight walks -- which matched his strikeout total -- signaled that he needed Triple-A time. In three starts at Albuquerque, he had more walks (seven) than strikeouts (six) in 12 2/3 innings.

On Sunday, Davis was better than in the Minors.

Davis worked Mariners star center fielder Julio Rodríguez into a double play with runners on the corners in the third, coaxed another double play from Teoscar Hernández to end the fourth and forced a Rodríguez popup to finish the fifth during which he dealt with two baserunners.

“This year that's kind of a separator so far -- I've mentally been able to keep myself under control and make pitches that I need,” Davis said. “In the past, situations like that -- runners on -- maybe try to do too much, try to be too fine.”

Davis, who turns 26 on Saturday, was obtained from the Reds at the 2021 Trade Deadline for reliever Mychal Givens. Reliant on his slider early in his career, Davis has built confidence in two-seam and four-seam fastballs, and worked on a changeup this spring. He used everything (a cutter and curve included) Sunday.

The still-developing Davis needed 95 pitches, partly because of some early-count four-seamers he yanked, and partly because Seattle shortened its swings and fouled off numerous pitches.

“Overall, his mindset was to attack, which he did,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “His intent was to throw a strike with every pitch. I liked the fact that his mix of pitches was solid and he used them all, which was good.”

“The only knock if you could say anything was the efficiency, 95 pitches in five innings. There were some deep counts but you’ve got to give the Mariners a little bit of credit, too. They laid off some borderline pitches. They fought with two strikes to elevate the pitch count. But it was good.”