ST. LOUIS – Rockies catcher Brett Sullivan acknowledged that whatever frustration the Rockies feel after competitive losses – like Sunday’s 7-4 decision against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium – is the right kind.
“There’s definitely frustration over the fact that we know how good we are,” said Sullivan, whose two-run homer in the sixth helped erase the deficit before Hunter Goodman’s game-tying solo homer in the eighth. “These guys work together. We’re a solid group, and we all believe in each other and are definitely playing for each other.”
At last Monday’s Trade Deadline, the team added pitching that’s about to emerge in the Majors, and depth in the low Minors. But outside of dealing center fielder Brenton Doyle to the White Sox, Colorado decided it was moving in the right direction with its regular lineup, and kept most of its bullpen intact. While last week showed sequences of improvement, the club still went 1-5 against the Rays and Cardinals.
The Rockies dropped two of three to the Cardinals and have now lost eight straight road series, with five of those losses coming in deciding games.
Here are three takeaways from the series at Busch that left the Rockies measuring progress rather than collecting a series win:
They must be more opportunistic
Saturday night’s standout, Jake McCarthy, went 2-for-5 with a run on Sunday, and the Rockies – quietly an improved team on the road – banged 10 hits. They outhit the Cards, 31-28, over the three games. But Colorado went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position on Friday. On Sunday, the Rockies had two batters reach with no outs or one out three times, but couldn’t manage more than two runs in any inning.
“We had some big swings today,” said Goodman, whose 34 homers place him one behind National League leader Kyle Schwarber. “But if we can just keep passing the baton throughout the game, we’ll be in a good spot. If you look at our offense as a whole, we’re top 10 in almost every category.”
First baseman TJ Rumfield went 0-for-5 on Sunday, but on Friday and Saturday went a combined 5-for-7 and gave fodder for those who will be comparing his year against that of St. Louis' JJ Wetherholt and others in the National League Rookie of the Year race. But don’t sleep on rookie Cole Carrigg, who went 3-for-8 with two doubles and two walks in the final two games and sits at a .297 average in his first 50 Major League games.
Bullpen falling into place
During the weekend, manager Warren Schaeffer espoused confidence in high-leverage relievers.
Jimmy Herget shook off his slump for a solid week. Parker Mushinski, who earned his first Major League win on Saturday night, but gave up Wetherholt’s game-deciding hit on Sunday, joined Brennan Bernardino to give the Rockies two experienced left-handers. Righty Juan Mejia entered Saturday’s game with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth, and began a march toward the 8-6 win by keeping two of the runners from scoring, and Jordan Romano earned his sixth save in seven opportunities since joining the club.
Mushinski and righty Nick Frasso, obtained from the Dodgers before the Deadline, immediately took important innings. Righty Jaden Hill, who often faced lefties in big situations before his shoulder injury, is close to returning to the mix.
The Rockies traded righties Antonio Senzatela to the Brewers, and Victor Vodnik to the Marlins, feeling that there was enough talent in the plus-side relief corps to put away wins.
“We have the talent to be able to do it,” Schaeffer said during the weekend. “Guys are going to get an opportunity – that’s the thing about a team like us.”
Another revelation has been righty Tanner Gordon, Sunday’s hard-luck losing pitcher. Gordon replaced Michael Lorenzen, who struggled because of inefficiency (97 pitches in 4 1/3 innings) but also poor defense (four runs, two earned). Gordon struck out two in 3 1/3 innings, but was charged with two runs after two run-scoring hits off Mushinski.
Starting pitching is an unanswered question
Like Lorenzen on Sunday, Kyle Freeland was hurt Saturday by factors beyond his control – a passed ball by Goodman on a third strike led to two runs, and Goodman dropped a throw from Carrigg, from center field, that would have completed a double play.
Righty Ryan Feltner held the Cards to four hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings on Friday, but lamented yielding Iván Herrera’s solo homer that was the victory margin.
The rest of the season could bring 2027 pitching into focus. Feltner is under club control and could be the most experienced starter – with Freeland and Tomoyuki Sugano under expiring contracts, and the club holding a 2027 option on Lorenzen.
The upcoming series with Arizona will feature starters Gabriel Hughes (0-3, 4.25 ERA), a rookie who has been impressive in his first five starts; Sugano (11-5, 4.51), who the Rockies must consider re-signing; and Feltner.