The Rockies were swept a four game series in New York versus the Mets earlier this week. Colorado was shut down by the Mets’ impressive young core of pitchers while victory was also hindered by very silent bats the two middle games of the series.
Game 1: Rockies 2, Mets 4 – The Rockies’ highly anticipated pitching prospect Jon Gray took the mound in the opening game of the series and pitched well. He gave up a lone run, a solo shot to the Mets’ catcher Travis d’Arnaud, in the second inning. But the homer to d’Arnaud was the only blemish on Gray’s performance, not to mention the only hit he would allow in his day of work. He pitched six strong innings, striking out five and walking two.
Gray would exit after six with a 2-1 lead, courtesy of Carlos Gonzalez’s 26th long ball of the year, a two run blast in the fourth off Mets’ starter Jon Niese. But the lead would not hold, as Rockies reliever Justin Miller surrendered three runs in the Mets’ half of the seventh to put New York up 4-2.
The Rox were unable to achieve a single hit in the last two innings after Niese exited, and Gray’s solid start was spoiled as the Rox fell in game one.
Game 2: Rockies 0, Mets 4 – The Rockies were blanked in game two after a dominating performance by the Mets’ ace, Matt Harvey. The Rox were unable to figure things out against Harvey, as the 26 year-old went eight innings and allowed only four hits en route to his 11th win of the year.
Chris Rusin took the mound for Colorado and pitched very well, going six innings and surrendering just one run. Rusin allowed no free passes to the Mets and punched out five while earning an unfortunate loss.
The Mets added some insurance runs in the eighth inning, when they torched the Rockies’ John Axford, who gave up two walks, a hit and three runs. Axford has struggled immensely recently. This summer has not been kind to the Ax Man; after being lights out for the majority of April and May, Axford has posted a 5.40 ERA in June, a 9.00 ERA in July, and a 7.11 ERA so far in August.
Game 3: Rockies 0, Mets 3- Despite a solid start by Jorge De La Rosa, the Rockies were shutout for the second consecutive night and dropped game three. The Mets got another great start in game three, this time by Jacob deGrom. He baffled the Rockies lineup for seven long innings, and in the process recorded ten strikeouts compared to only two hits.
By comparison, De La Rosa lasted six innings, giving up two runs, both of which came in the fourth inning, the latter of the two runs being produced by former Rockies player Michael Cuddyer. The Mets would add one more in the eighth when Yoenis Cespedes launched his 19th homer of the year, a solo shot off Christian Bergman.
Second baseman DJ LeMahieu recorded two of the Rockies three hits and De La Rosa was charged with the loss as the Rockies’ offense fell silent again.
Game 4: Rockies 3, Mets 12- The series finale was even uglier than the three previous games. If the Rockies were looking for help from the gods of offensive production, then disappointment was surely experienced, as the cruel gods decided to bless the Mets’ with an offensive explosion instead.
Colorado took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to solo shots by LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado. But Rockies’ starter Eddie Butler would immediately relinquish the lead, and that was only the beginning of his woes.
The Mets put up three in their half of the first to take the lead, but the Rockies tied it in the third inning when Carlos Gonzalez scored Charlie Blackmon from third with an RBI groundout. Unfortunately for the Rox, the third inning would be the end of their offensive exploits.
The Mets pounded Butler for six runs and seven hits over four innings. It was not a favorable showing for Butler, who is trying to prove that he can compete at the Major League level.
Conversely, Mets’ starter Noah Syndergaard earned his seventh win of the year after allowing four hits and three runs over seven innings.
After Butler exited, the Mets immediately got to reliever Scott Oberg, whose 1⅓ inning outing went poorly, as he gave up three runs and walked two. Oberg now owns an ERA north of six.
Game four was also a rare bad showing from Tommy Kahnle, who gave up a three run shot in the eighth to the Mets’ Juan Lagares.
The Rockies are back home to kick off a series with the San Diego Padres. First pitch is tonight at 6:40 MST. Yohan Flande will take the hill for the Rox.
Contact CU Independent Rockies Beat Writer Justin Guerriero at justin.guerriero@colorado.edu and follow him on twitter @TheHungry_Hippo
