HOUSTON -- Through their first 17 games, the Rockies have played six one-run games. With a strong offense and a pitching staff that is keeping games within reach, Colorado knows it will be in a lot more close games as the season progresses.
Hunter Goodman had two of the Rockies’ three home runs, and the Rockies’ bullpen tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings, but a ninth-inning rally fell short in a 7-6 loss to the Astros on Tuesday night at Daikin Park.
After trailing by four after the third inning, the Rockies had chances in the eighth and ninth innings to tie or take the lead, but they left runners stranded both innings.
“We want that to happen, but we also want the next thing to also happen, which is to score the run,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said of having a chance to win it late. “We can’t keep saying that we’re happy bringing the tying, winning run to the plate. No doubt that we keep fighting, and I’m proud of them for doing that. We’re going to turn the page.”
The Rockies fell to 1-5 in one-run games so far this season.
“Just no quit,” Schaeffer said. “These guys are getting better every day. We need to start turning these one-run losses into one-run wins. I think that’s going to come.”
Despite the loss, the fight in the Rockies is clear. Colorado’s first four runs on Tuesday came with two outs, and the Rockies drew four more walks, including two in the eighth, as they attempted to retake the lead.
“I love the way we fought as a team,” Goodman said. “We kept grinding out tough at-bats. We fell a little short, but I thought we fought and showed some good stuff today.”
Goodman blasted a solo home run to the Crawford Boxes in left field in the first inning and led off the fifth with a solo home run to left-center for his sixth career multi-homer game and first since July 1 against the Astros.
Jordan Beck hit his first home run of the season – a solo shot to right in the fourth.
Bullpen keeps it close
The Rockies’ bullpen was tasked with entering in the third inning and trying to keep things close. They were up to the challenge.
Antonio Senzatela set the tone out of the bullpen, tossing 3 1/3 innings while scattering two hits. Juan Mejia and Zach Agnos followed with a scoreless inning each.
Schaeffer called Senzatela “incredibly important” so far this season. He has yet to allow a run in 12 1/3 innings this season, and has a scoreless streak of 18 innings dating back to Sept. 13, 2025.
“A guy that can go three-plus, four innings and come in the middle of an inning and shut it down and keep it right where it’s at,” Schaeffer said. “Everything you want out of Senz. I continue to be so proud of him after what happened last year. He’s huge for us.”
Starter Michael Lorenzen struggled to get out of the third, allowing seven runs (two earned) on six hits in 2 2/3 innings. The Astros tagged him for six runs in the third, capitalizing on two errors.
“It just seemed like we were unable to stop the bleeding,” Schaeffer said of the third. “I don’t think Mike threw the ball bad. I thought he competed well today. Just a couple unlucky things behind him.”
Lorenzen said he kept throwing strikes, and he finished with a strike percentage above 70% (50 strikes on 71 pitches).
“In that regard, when things aren’t going your way, you can kind of give in to the hitters and give them free passes, and I didn’t give them free passes,” Lorenzen said. “It was all about them having to earn what they were getting off me. It was a long inning. It sucked.”
Despite the rough outing, Lorenzen was complimentary of the bullpen and how the team continues to battle.
“We’re in just about every game,” Lorenzen said. “There’s only been a couple of games that we haven’t been in. We’re going to continue getting better. Guys are young here. Guys are going to continue getting better and better with more reps. I see a lot more one-run games won in the future.”