Arizona’s Eugenio Suarez, mired in an 0-for-17 slump, hit a two-out 72.3 mph blooper into no-man’s land. Rockies left fielder Nolan Jones raced over, desperate to make the catch. He dove, came up empty, and two runs came in.
And so it goes for the hapless Rockies.
Colorado fell, 5-3, to the Diamondbacks on Wednesday afternoon at Coors Field. The Rockies lost their fourth straight series to start the season and own a 3-10 record, which is tied for their worst through 13 games in franchise history. Colorado also stumbled to 3-10 starts in 2005, ’19 and ’21.
The paid crowd at Coors was 18,311, the smallest announced attendance for a non-pandemic-restricted Rockies home game since April 27, 2009. That small crowd showed up for a Tuesday night game against San Diego. The smallest crowd last year was 18,511 vs. Pittsburgh on April 19.
Three or fewer runs decided all six games in the Rockies’ 2-4 homestand. Still, Wednesday’s loss was brutal. Suarez’s ball hung in the air just long enough for Jones to think he had a chance to make a game-saving play.
“It’s a crucial situation in the game, and I was doing anything I could to make a play, but I came up a few inches short,” said Jones, who went 0 for 5, struck out three times, and made the final out.
The ninth began ominously for the Rockies. Right-handed reliever Justin Lawrence committed the baseball sin of walking the leadoff hitter, Ketel Marte. Lawrence also issued a two-out walk to Christian Walker, who scored a bonus run. But given Walker’s penchant for punishing the Rockies, Lawrence was wise to pitch him ultra-carefully.
Walking Marte sparked the D-backs’ comeback.
“The leadoff walk is always tough in the ninth,” manager Bud Black said. “That’s ill-advised. It doesn’t matter where you are, home or road, it hurts you.”
Colorado loaded the bases in the ninth off closer Kevin Ginkel, but the rally fizzled. A one-out single by Ezequiel Tovar and a walk by Ryan McMahon put the pressure on. But Ginkel struck out Kris Bryant, who’s mired in a horrible slump and is hitting .100 (4 for 40) after going 0 for 5 Wednesday. Jake Cave drew a walk to jam the bases, but Jones flew out to center to end the game.
“It’s tough for me right now; it’s frustrating, but I know it’s going to turn around,” said Jones, who struck out in his first three at-bats. He’s hitting .157 (8-for-51) and has struck out 23 times in 57 plate appearances.
“He’s pressing, similar to spring training last year,” Black said. “We’ve talked about his desire and his care factor for this team. But if you try too hard in this game, it works against you. I think that’s where we are.”
The Rockies had a chance to take the lead in the eighth when Brendan Rodgers broke out of his own slump with a two-out double into the right-field corner, but lefty reliever Joe Mantiply came in to get Michael Toglia to pop out to left.
Colorado starter Austin Gomber deserved a better fate. The lefty gave up two runs on six hits over six innings, striking out two and walking two. He owns a 3.87 ERA over his last 14 starts since June 30 of last season.
Gomber was a little shaky early on. Corbin Carroll ripped him for a one-out double in the first and scored on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s single to right. In the second, Blaze Alexander led off with a wind-blown homer to right.
But Gomber blanked the D-backs for the next four innings, giving up just two hits and two walks.
“I’m having a tough time in the first right now,” Gomber said. “I’m just trying to find a way to be a little bit cleaner out of the gate, but I feel like I was better after that.”
Colorado’s starting pitching, so bad to begin the season, was solid during the homestand, posting a 3.55 ERA with four quality starts.
The bullpen, however, continues to have issues. Arizona tied the game, 3-3, in the seventh against reliever Jake Bird, who gave up a two-out, RBI double to Gurriel.
Tovar continues to be Colorado’s best everyday player. He led off the first with a single to left off Arizona lefty Tommy Henry and scored on Elehuris Montero’s single to left.
Colorado took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on Toglia’s two-run homer to dead center. Toglia drove in Rodgers, who reached on an error by Alexander at shortstop. Toglia’s homer was his team-leading third of the season.
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Pitching probables
Thursday: Off day
Friday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (0-1, 3.27) at Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (0-1, 9.53), 5:07 p.m. (MDT)
Saturday: Rockies RHP Dakota Hudson (0-2, 2.38) at Blue Jays RHP Bowden Francis (0-2, 12.96), 1:07 p.m. (MDT)
Sunday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (0-2, 16.03) at Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios (2-0, 1.45), 11:37 a.m. (MDT)
