A purple haze descended on LoDo Tuesday night.
It had nothing to do with the smoky skies produced by the Canadian wildfires. It had everything to do with Boston Red Sox right-hander Cooper Criswell, who snuffed out Rockies bats for seven innings.
Criswell, pitching for the first time at Coors Field, gave up five hits, walked one and struck out four, and the Red Sox won 6-0.
The Rockies were shut out for the 11th time this season, tied for the second-most in the majors. It marked the fourth time this season they’ve been shut out at Coors, tied for the second-most home shutout losses in franchise history with the 2022, 2012, and 1997 clubs. The franchise record is five, set in 2006.
Colorado put the leadoff man on base five times vs. Criswell but couldn’t produce a run against the right-hander. The Rockies were 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position with Criswell on the mound, and 0 for 8 overall.
“Criswell had good sink and good arm-side run into our right-handers,” manager Bud Black said. “He had a good breaking ball from the same (arm) slot and he had three effective pitches. He kept the ball down and produced a lot of grounders. We just couldn’t solve him.”
Veteran Kris Bryant, back after missing 43 games on the injured list because of a left rib contusion and a strained left oblique, struck out twice and walked once vs. Criswell. He also ground out to end the game against Greg Weissert. Bryant is hitting .180.
However, Bryant made an excellent running catch in the first inning on Rob Refsnyder’s drive into the corner. He admitted it was a bit of test.
“I hate that I have put myself in a position to where you kind of have to hold your breath when I make a dive, or whatever, or run into a fence,” Bryant said. “That’s all on me.
“Obviously, that’s very frustrating. But like I said, I kind of surprised myself, and I was moving pretty good. Overall, I felt good.”
Colorado entered the game on a home run binge, hitting 32 in July, the second-most in the majors. But they had trouble squaring up Criswell and grounded into three double plays.
Colorado lefty Ty Blach, meanwhile, had a tough start, courtesy of Boston right fielder Tyler O’Neill, who blasted two mammoth home runs.
“I wasn’t that behind (in the count) that much, I just wasn’t as crisp,” Blach said. “I just didn’t feel like I was able to execute as many pitches, especially down in the zone. I had to fight through that.”
O’Neill’s two-run, 437-foot homer sparked the Red Sox’s three-run first inning.
“The first homer came on a changeup low in the zone and I didn’t think it was a homer off the bat,” Blach said. “But he got enough of it.”
O’Neill’s one-out solo homer in the third extended Boston’s lead to 6-0. His big fly landed on the concourse — no, not the concourse at DIA, the one beyond left field — but it was majestic nonetheless, traveling an estimated 465 feet.
“I didn’t see where the second pitch was, but I assume it kind of leaked over the plate a little bit,” Blach said.
O’Neill’s two homers gave him 20 for the season.
Blach was gone after 2 1/3 innings, having given up six runs on seven hits as his ERA climbed to 6.13. He walked one and struck out one. The six runs were the most he has allowed in his career at Coors Field.
There was some encouraging work by two Colorado relievers who blanked Boston for the remainder of the game.
Potential future starter Anthony Molina, who replaced Blach, dug a big hole in the fourth by issuing three walks to load the bases. But Molina extricated himself by striking out the dangerous O’Neill with the base loaded. Molina ended up pitching 3 1/3 innings and allowing only one hit.
Right-hander Noah Davis shut out the Red Sox for 3 1/3 innings, giving up three hits, walking one and striking out three.
“I thought Noah pitched very well,” Black said. “I liked the (difference) between his fastball at 93-94 (mph) and his 78 (breaking ball). So the big gap in velocity is very useful, for sure.”
The three-game series is tied 1-1, with the deciding game scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Wednesday’s pitching matchup
Red Sox RHP Nick Pivetta (4-6, 3.87 ERA ) at Rockies RHP Cal Quantrill (6-7, 4.15)
1:10 p.m. Wednesday, Coors Field
TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
Quantrill, who remains the subject of trade whispers as the July 30 deadline nears, has cooled off as the weather’s heated up. Quantrill gave up three runs on five hits and two walks over six innings in a no-decision last Friday vs. the Giants at Coors Field. He struck out five in Colorado’s win. Quantrill is looking for his first individual victory since June 11. In his six starts since his last win, Quantril has a 6.44 ERA through 29 2/3 innings. In four career starts vs. Boston, he’s 0-1 with a 1.457 WHIP, 20 strikeouts and eight walks.
Pivetta is coming off a wasted gem. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out eight over six scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers. However, Boston’s bullpen melted down and Los Angeles prevailed. Pivetta posted a scoreless outing for the fourth time this year, including twice over three starts in July. Pivetta has struggled mightily vs. Colorado, going 0-4 with a 13.85 ERA in four games (three starts). He’s served up three homers and 10 walks while striking out nine.
Pitching probables
Thursday: Off
Friday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (2-3, 5.63) at Giants TBA, 8:15 p.m.
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