In the eighth inning of Thursday’s series finale against San Diego, the Rockies’ offense transformed into the Big Purple Machine.
Colorado batted around in that frame to erase a five-run deficit, plating six runs in the process. After closer Justin Lawrence cemented the team’s largest comeback of the season with a save in the ninth, the result was a signature moment of positivity amid a spring full of struggles.
Yes, the Rockies (7-19) have still yet to win a series in eight tries after splitting with San Diego, surpassing last season’s futility in that regard while also setting a franchise record to start a season. But Thursday provided a glimmer of hope and some signs that maybe, just maybe, this year’s team will avoid the 100-loss mark again.
“We just had to hang in there,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “Our guys are playing hard lately, and this was a good one for the guys for sure. It helps the vibe.”
Rookie right fielder Hunter Goodman highlighted the rally with a monster homer, his first of the year, while Brenton Doyle and Brendon Rodgers both had knocks in the inning to cap three-hit days for each player.
Colorado starter Daniel Hudson was bad, giving up six runs on six hits and four walks through 3 1/3 innings. And the offense, which showed early life, disappeared in the middle part of the game before re-emerging with a bang in the eighth.
The Rockies struck first when Doyle singled, got to third on a hit by Ryan McMahon, and then scored on Elias Diaz’s sacrifice fly. But the Padres got that run back the next inning when Luis Campusano led off with a single and then eventually scored on a groundout by José Azócar.
Both teams then put up three runs apiece in an eventful third inning.
The Padres’ half of the frame was highlighted by a leadoff double by Fernando Tatís Jr., who scored on Jurickson Profar’s single. Then, Ha-Seong Kim blasted a homer to left, turning on Hudson’s fastball to extend San Diego’s lead to 4-1. That inning’s output extended Colorado’s streak of trailing in each of its first 26 games this year, the longest MLB streak to start a season since the 1910 St. Louis Browns trailed in 28 straight games.
In the bottom of the inning, the Rockies retaliated with Diaz’s RBI groundout to score Ezequiel Tovar, followed by Elehuris Montero’s two-run bomb to left that tied the game at 4-4.
San Diego retook the lead off Hudson on Xander Bogaerts’ RBI double in the fourth, and after Peter Lambert replaced Hudson, Jake Cronenworth’s sacrifice fly made it 6-4.
After a scoreless fifth and sixth, Profar poured some salt in the wound in the seventh with a two-run homer to right off Nick Mears. The former Rockie watched his 405-foot no-doubter fly, then flipped his bat high in the air before trotting around the bases to give the Padres an 8-4 lead.
But Lambert holding the fort in those middle innings turned out to be key.
“Dakota had a rough one, but then Peter came in and calmed the waters for two and two-thirds,” Black said.
San Diego tacked on another run off Tyler Kinley in the eighth via Eguy Rosario’s RBI single. The game appeared to be in the books as the Padres held a 9-4 advantage entering the eighth.
But then the Rockies’ offense resurrected.
After Yuki Matsui yielded a walk and a double, he was replaced by Wandy Peralta, who promptly gave up a 448-foot blast to the recently recalled Goodman to left-center. It was the longest Colorado homer this year. Jacob Stallings and Tovar kept the train going with a single and a walk, respectively, before Doyle continued his hot day by singling Stallings home.
“I was looking for something up in the zone, and he hung a changeup and I was able to keep my weight back and I put a good swing on it,” Goodman said.
Tovar then scored on a passed ball to even the score 9-9, but Colorado wasn’t done. Stephen Kolek came on for San Diego, and the right-hander gave up a double to Diaz to give Colorado a 10-9 lead.
Doyle, hitting in the two-hole, continues to provide a spark for Colorado. He’s hit safely in eight of his last nine games, with a .406 average in that span and a .330 average overall. In addition to his hits on Tuesday, he stole two bases and scored three runs.
“Speed is one of my biggest attributes, so whenever I can get on and turn a single into a double, that’s huge,” Doyle said. “… I’ve simplified everything in my swing this year. Keeping the body a little quieter, keeping my head quieter and letting the ball come to me rather than trying to go get the ball. It’s been really successful so far.”
Colorado now heads to Mexico City for a two-game set with the Astros this weekend, followed by three-game road series in Miami and Pittsburgh. The Rockies return to Coors Field on May 7, for a six-game homestand against the Giants and reigning World Series champion Rangers.
“This is one of those wins that can definitely give a team momentum,” Goodman said.
The Rockies are off on Friday before beginning an eight-game road trip through Mexico City, Miami and Pittsburgh.
Pitching probables
Saturday: Astros RHP Ronel Blanco (2-0, 1.33) at Rockies RHP Cal Quantrill (0-2, 4.33), 4:05 p.m. in Mexico City
Sunday: Astros RHP Hunter Brown (0-4, 9.68) at Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (0-4, 4.32), 2:05 p.m. in Mexico City
Monday: Off
Tuesday: Marlins TBA at Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-2, 5.68), 4:40 p.m.
Wednesday: Marlins LHP Jesus Luzardo (0-2, 6.58) at Rockies TBA, 4:40 p.m.
