TORONTO — A series that began with such promise for the Rockies turned into the same, tired old story on Sunday afternoon with a 5-0 loss to the Blue Jays.
The Rockies opened the three-game set at Rogers Centre on Friday with a 20-hit, 12-4 victory over the Blue Jays. But after losing 5-3 on Saturday, the Rockies laid a giant goose egg Sunday against veteran right-hander Jose Berrios.
“He wasn’t predictable at all, and he was confident to throw anything in any count,” Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon said. “Shoot, he threw a changeup to get me after we were battling (in the fifth inning). I don’t think he had thrown a change since throwing one to Nolan (Jones) in the first inning.
“When a guy is going like that, you can feel his confidence out there. He stayed off barrels, and sometimes you just have to tip your cap.”
Colorado, which fell to 4-12, has not won a series this season. More telling, it has not won a series on the road since winning two of three games at St. Louis on Aug. 4-6 last season.
In their 16 games, the Rockies scored first in just one game and have been outscored 23-4 in the first inning. Opponents have scored at least one run in the first in 12 games.
Berrios (3-0, 1.05 ERA) dominated Colorado for seven innings, allowing just two hits while fanning seven.
“This guy today was tough and he’s got really good stuff,” manager Bud Black said. “We just couldn’t solve him. Today, he had a really devastating breaking ball and his fastball was moving.”
Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland was no match for Berrios or designated hitter Justin Turner, who hit 3 for 4 and drove in three runs.
Freeland, 0-3 with a 13.21 ERA after four starts, allowed four runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked two.
“I felt pretty good about my (stuff),” Freeland said. “They had some timely hits and I missed some spots. But, overall, I felt that my stuff was pretty good.”
The Blue Jays’ two-run third inning was Freeland’s undoing. Kevin Kiermaier grounded a ball up the middle, which Freeland kicked, and it turned into an infield single. Freeland’s pickoff attempt to first was wild, allowing Kiermaier to take second. Kiermaier advanced to third on George Springer’s lineout to center and scored on Vladimir Guerrero’s single up the middle. Guerrero then scored on Turner’s double into the left-field corner.
“It was two mistakes on my part that ended up costing me runs,” Freeland said. “I should have known where my defense was positioned, with the ball coming up the middle. And that was just a bad pickoff throw.”
In the first inning, Turner’s bloop single into no-man’s land behind first base scored Springer. Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers nearly came up with a circus catch but couldn’t pull it off.
Turner hurt Freeland again in the fifth, ripping his 1-2 curveball up the middle for a two-out RBI single to score Springer, who led off the inning with a single and moved into scoring position by stealing second.
Turner, the former Dodger, has long haunted the Rockies, hitting .335 with 13 homers, 39 doubles, one triple, and 76 RBIs in 147 games against them.
Asked why Turner is such a tough out, Freeland replied, “He stands right on the dish and he’s really good at using the entire field. He thinks right along with you. I’m almost positive that in the fifth inning, he knew my curveball was coming.”
Black thought Freeland pitched a decent game.
“Kyle battled; he just got outpitched today,” Black said.
Colorado had two opportunities to score off Berrios but failed to get a key hit.
In the first inning, Ezequiel Tovar was hit by a pitch and McMahon drew a walk off Berrios. They advanced on catcher Alejandro Kirk’s errant pickoff throw to first but were stranded when Elias Diaz fouled out to first and Jones struck out.
In the fifth, Elehuris Montero led off with a walk, and Berrios plunked Jacob Stallings. However, Berrios struck out Charlie Blackmon and Tovar and induced McMahon to pop up to center, ending the threat.
The Rockies open a three-game series at Philadelphia on Monday night.
Bryant update. First baseman/outfielder/designated hitter Kris Bryant, who hurt his lower back and right side when he crashed into the right-field wall after making a first-inning catch on Saturday against the Blue Jays, did not play Sunday. Black said before the game that there was a chance Bryant would be available to pinch-hit if needed. Bryant, however, was never called upon. Bryant is considered day-to-day and there is a chance he will be back in the starting lineup on Monday against the Phillies.
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