DENVER -- The Rockies aren't asking perfection of rookie right-handed reliever Matt Carasiti. They're just trusting him for key outs.
Carasiti earned his first Major League win after the Rockies beat the Cubs, 7-6, in 11 innings on Friday night. Although he gave up a go-ahead run in the top of the 11th on Dexter Fowler's two-out RBI single, he forced a fly ball to right from Kris Bryant, which gave the offense a chance to score twice off Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the frame.
Carasiti, 25, a sixth-round pick in 2012 out of St. John's, posted a 1.96 ERA with 37 saves in 44 combined games at Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque before being called up to the Majors last Friday.
After sending Carasiti out for two get-your-feet-wet innings with two runs (one earned) in his Major League debut in a loss to the Phillies, manager Walt Weiss has thrown him into tight situations his last three outings.
Carasiti pitched one-third of an inning with a walk in Tuesday's 6-2 victory over the Nationals, and the next day gave up a run in an inning while protecting a lead in a wild 12-10 victory.
With righty Scott Oberg, lefty Boone Logan and closer Adam Ottavino (who ran his club-record scoreless streak to 30 2/3 innings) already used, Weiss turned to Carasiti against a tough Cubs lineup on Friday. Carasiti gave up a one-out single to Willson Contreras and walked Ben Zobrist with two out before Fowler singled.
"He's been in some tough spots here the last few times," Weiss said. "He gave up a run, but it was huge that he stranded the runners out there, got the third out, kept it a one-run game. That's what we preach all the time. Even if you're not lights-out, keep the game intact, strand those runners, give us a shot."