Rockies’ bullpen collapses, walks seven in two innings in loss to Dodgers – The Denver Post

In a season full of lows, the Rockies bottomed out Saturday night in Los Angeles.

The Rockies’ bullpen came apart at the seams in the seventh and eighth innings and the Dodgers rallied for a 6-4 victory. Colorado has lost a season-high seven consecutive games and is 1-11 in its last 12.

“That was not a major league inning, I’ll put it that way,” Rockies manager Bud Black told reporters in Los Angeles, referencing the seventh when right-handers Dinelson Lamet and Chad Smith combined to walk six batters.

“It was ugly, no doubt about it,” Black continued. “We gifted the Rockies that seventh inning. … Two guys, tonight, did not do their job, in a very ugly way.”

The Dodgers, meanwhile, are a juggernaut. They extended their franchise record for wins in a season to 110 and are tied with the 1909 Pirates for the second-most wins in National League history. Only the 1906 Chicago Cubs, with 116 wins, have more wins in NL history.

Riding a strong start by lefty Kyle Freeland, the Rockies led 4-1 entering the bottom of the seventh. Then came a bullpen meltdown of biblical proportions.

The Rockies not only tied a franchise record by issuing six free passes in the frame, but they also walked five straight to open the inning, the first time that’s happened in franchise history. The last team to walk five straight to begin an inning was Tampa Bay on July 7, 2007, vs. Kansas City.

The disaster began when right-hander Dinelson Lamet walked Trea Turner, Freddie Freeman and Trayce Thompson, leaving the bases full for rookie reliever Chad Smith. Smith promptly walked pinch-hitter Joey Gallo to force in a run. Then Smith walked Austin Barnes to force in another run. Cody Bellinger’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly to center tied the game, 4-4.

Smith then walked Max Muncy to load the bases again, but rookie Gavin Hollowell came in and stopped the carnage by striking out Gavin Lux and coaxing Mookie Betts to ground out to second.

The Dodgers won the game in the eighth against Hollowell on a sacrifice fly by Gallo and an RBI single by Bellinger. Hollowell gave up three hits and a walk of his own, making for 10 total walks issued by the Rockies.

Freeland pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on seven hits. He walked three and tied a season-high with eight strikeouts.

“It felt good to end my season on a good note,” Freeland told reporters. “But there is a sour taste because of the loss, especially against the Dodgers.”

The ultra-competitive Freeland was clearly upset by the loss, as well as the Rockies’ ineptitude on the road this season where they fell to 24-53.

“It was definitely tough to watch,” Freeland said. “I know those (relievers) weren’t trying to do that, but it’s something that has to be cleaned up if you want to be a big-league bullpen leader.”

In regard to Colorado’s road woes, Freeland said: “It hasn’t been acceptable all year. We haven’t won at all on the road this year. It’s kind of been the same story over the past four years.

“It’s got to change. It’s got to change within us, it’s got to change within our organization of how we go about things when we go on the road.”

Freeland finished his season 9-11 with a 4.53 ERA in 31 starts. His 1.41 WHIP, 131 strikeouts and 174 2/3 innings pitched were the second-best of his career, behind his magical 2018 season when he finished fourth in voting for the National League Cy Young Award.

The Rockies put together their seemingly comfortable 4-1 lead with a four-run fourth. Ryan McMahon led off with a solo home run off Michael Grove, McMahon’s 20th homer of the season. Back-to-back singles by C.J. Cron and Brendan Rodgers set up Randal Grichuk’s three-run homer, his 18th of the season.

Colorado has hit 46 home runs on the road, the fewest in the majors and still the fewest in a full season in franchise history. The previous low was 49, in 2000.

On Deck

Rockies RHP German Marquez (8-13, 5.12 ERA) at Dodgers LHP Tyler Anderson (15-4, 2.54)
2:10 p.m. Sunday, Dodger Stadium
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: KOA 630AM/94.1 FM

This is a compelling matchup. Marquez is making his final start in what’s been a tough season. Anderson, the former Rockies lefty, has been reborn in Los Angeles. Marquez has lost three consecutive games, including a loss to the Giants at Oracle Park last Tuesday when he allowed three runs on six hits over six innings. Despite going 0-3 in his last three outings, the right-hander has a 4.00 ERA with two quality starts. All-time against the Dodgers, Marquez is 2-4 with a 3.72 ERA. At Dodger Stadium, he’s 2-2 (Rockies 4-3) with a 2.62 ERA in seven career starts. Anderson had a no-decision in L.A.’s 4-3 extra-inning loss to San Diego on Tuesday, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three in six innings. Anderson threw 52 of 71 pitches for strikes. He’s given up three runs or fewer runs in his last nine starts, posting a 1.85 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings.

Trending: In 13 games hitting leadoff, Yonathan Daza was slashing .333/.419/.444, entering Saturday night’s game.

At issue: The Rockies entered Saturday night’s game having lost a season-high six consecutive games, the team’s longest losing streak since a seven-game stretch from April 9-17, 2021.

Pitching probables:
Monday: Rockies RHP Jose Urena (3-8, 5.24) at Dodgers RHP Tony Gonsolin (16-1, 2.10), 8:10 p.m., ATTRM
Tuesday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (3-9, 6.01) at Dodgers LHP Julio Urías (17-7, 2.12), 8:10 p.m., ATTRM

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