Extra-base hits aplenty for Rockies

April 14th, 2016

DENVER -- Turns out that Rockies rookie shortstop Trevor Story, who spent his first week in the big leagues hitting home runs and inspiring puns, has a way with words, himself.
The news Wednesday night was the Rockies cracked a club single-game record four triples, and tied the club mark with 12 extra-base hits, in a 10-6 victory over the Giants. Behind the story is the fact Story was robbed of two possible home runs -- he has seven already -- by the new fencing that general manager Jeff Bridich pushed to add in right field.
"The Bridich Barrier," a smiling Story called it after the game.
The Story continues with two mashed triples
With most of the Rockies hitting balls off the wall, and Nolan Arenado knocking two over the wall, Story and his teammates can speak affectionately of the new fencing, even when it gets in their way.

Of course, the Bridich Barrier doesn't just take away. It gives.
From the right-center edge of the out-of-town scoreboard in right, along the front of the Rockies' bullpen and to the right-field side of the visiting bullpen, the Rockies added 8 feet, 9 inches of coated, chain-link fencing so that it all matches the 16-foot, 6-inch out-of-town board.
It helped leadoff man Charlie Blackmon in the first inning. Blackmon drove Giants starting pitcher Jake Peavy's second pitch of the game to the warning track. The ball bounced, and last year would have landed in the home bullpen. But Wednesday, it hit the fencing and dropped straight to the turf. Blackmon easily ran out a triple, and scored on Story's sacrifice fly.
Carlos Gonzalez tripled into the right-field corner later in the first, and the Rockies were off hitting and running.

Arenado would miss a cycle by a triple, and Gonzalez would end the night needing a home run. Blackmon doubled in the third. Gerardo Parra doubled twice, and Arenado and Ben Paulsen each added doubles.
"We played some nice offense tonight," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.
The Rockies have had 12 extra-base hits on two other occasions -- July 4, 2008 against the Marlins, and July 30, 2010 against the Cubs. Both were at Coors, back when extending the fencing was merely an idea.
Arenado, on a night he wasn't affected by the new park feature, said he had fun with it after it kept Story in the park.
"I told him some things I probably shouldn't say - the owner might get mad at me," Arenado said, laughing.
Story said some barbs were directed at him.
Besides, Story had no real cause for frustration. He never did so much as take batting practice at the park before Friday afternoon's home opener. So it's not like he can miss hitting a homer to that part of Coors.
"I'm not too frustrated," Story said. "I'm happy anytime I hit the ball hard. Nitpicking with that is really not my style."