PHILADELPHIA – Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar could at least smile when breaking down what makes Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez so effective.
The Rockies managed six hits but no damage, and struck out seven times in seven innings against Sánchez in Sunday afternoon’s 6-0 loss at Citizens Bank Park.
But Sunday was an oasis in what has been a dry beginning of the season for Tovar, whose two singles -- both off Sánchez -- marked his first multi-hit game since April 24 and brought his batting average to .197. With Sánchez on a career-best streak of 20 2/3 scoreless innings, any hit off him is an accomplishment.
“I think he’s got one of the best changeups in the league right now,” Tovar said. “His fastball is a sinker, so it’s a sinker-change combo. They have the same movement but the difference is the velo. For that reason, he’s pitching very well.”
So can a couple of hits off such a hot pitcher warm up Tovar’s bat?
Tovar is one of several right-handed-hitting Rockies batting below or not much above .200. He is in the lineup more often than not.
Jordan Beck is batting .169 after going 1-for-3 on Sunday, and Brenton Doyle is at .196 after going 0-for-3; both are seeing their starts largely against lefty pitching. Third baseman Kyle Karros (.217 after an 0-for-3 Sunday) is much like Tovar – a starter in most games because the defense takes a hit when Beck and Doyle are not in the lineup.
No matter who was in for the Rockies, hitting against Sánchez was a heavy assignment on Sunday.
“Sánchez’s changeup is deadly,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “We didn’t have an answer for it today.
“I thought ‘Tovie’ swung the bat well.”
It would have been nice if the magic from the Phillies’ side would have wafted the Rockies’ way on Sunday.
The Phillies held slumping Alec Bohm out of the lineup for two games. Bohm returned on Saturday night for two homers off Rockies starter Kyle Freeland and three hits overall in Philadelphia’s 9-3 victory. But that doesn’t always happen.
“I don’t know … good for him,” Tovar said of Bohm, smiling.
This season has been wrought with difficulties for Tovar. Known for being aggressive throughout his career, Tovar continued to chase breaking balls off the plate from right-handed pitching. Then, possibly because Tovar is so conscious of the outside pitch, pitchers this year have been beating him with high fastballs.
Recent trends have not been in Tovar’s favor. During the Rockies’ most-recent homestand, Tovar drilled a couple of pitches that ended up as outs, but overall he struggled to make consistent hard contact.
Tovar has quite a bit in common with the other right-handed hitters who are struggling. They broke in with the Rockies as ultra-aggressive batters who are capable of extra-base power, but pitchers have been using their free-swinging natures against them.
Schaeffer, who became interim manager last May 11 before being named full-time manager in November, is pressing for strategies based on better swing decisions and putting balls in play. The new front office values controlling the strike zone as well. But these are learned traits, and it’s clear Tovar and some of his teammates are works in progress. Getting an education in hitting off the field and going out to face top pitchers is a tall order.
There were small steps forward for the offense overall. Friday’s victory came in a contest started by Jesús Luzardo, who struck out 11 at Coors Field on April 4 in the Rockies’ home opener. Colorado scored six runs and chased him after three innings on Friday. In Saturday’s loss, the Rockies forced starter Aaron Nola out of the game after 4 2/3 innings.
On Sunday, however, Sánchez didn’t bend. Neither did Tovar.
It won’t be easier Tuesday-Thursday at Pittsburgh, where the Rockies will face righties Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and Carmen Mlodzinski.
Tovar, who has been tagged with All-Star potential but must find his swing to realize it, will keep aspiring for better days.
“I feel more comfortable taking the balls out of the zone, and we’re working on that,” he said. “I’d love to prove I can do that, but I feel better. And as a team, we’re making better decisions.
“Today, God sent me two hits. I’ll take that.”