DENVER — Connor Joe tossed the ball toward the dugout in disgust, exemplifying yet another disconcerting mistake that doomed the Rockies on Thursday afternoon.
A would-be pop-out fell harmlessly in foul territory between Joe and Rockies catcher Brian Serven in the top of the ninth, but the frustration — born of the miscommunication — was evident nonetheless. Colorado fell, 4-2, to Cleveland, extending the Rockies’ losing streak to three, a sweep at the hands of a mediocre Guardians team.
“All three of these games hinged on a couple at-bats,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “… We just didn’t get that big hit.”
Two more errors, not including the dropped foul pop-up, plagued the defense.
“Errors facilitate losses, and losses are frustrating,” Serven said.
Added Joe: “We need to clean up the defense. It’s coming. Just stringing together clean games, right? Pitching, offensive, defense. That’s what we’re working towards.”
Joe and Serven had four hits each, accounting for the majority of Colorado’s offense. The Rockies were outscored 15-10 throughout the three-game sweep.
The Rockies, who fell to 27-37, host San Diego Friday night.
With two on in the bottom of the ninth, Charlie Blackmon laced a deep fly ball to center field that threatened to end the game on a walk-off home run. After that loud out, Rockies shortstop Brendan Rodgers swiftly ended the game when he grounded into a double play.
“They’re still fighting,” said Black, undeterred by Thursday’s result. ” … They’re playing every single out.”
Cleveland’s Triston McKenzie earned the win with six innings pitched and just one earned run allowed, while Rockies starter Chad Kuhl wore the loss with two earned runs scattered over five innings.
Perhaps Colorado’s best chance to make a dent came in the bottom of the seventh, first against former Rockies reliever Bryan Shaw and later against Eli Morgan. Serven and Joe topped the inning with back-to-back singles, and Blackmon loaded the bases with a patient walk. Rodgers jumped at the first pitch he saw, yielding a lazy fly-out. C.J. Cron’s hard liner to right turned into a sacrifice fly, but McMahon could do nothing but ground out to the pitcher.
An inning with immense promise fizzled.
After one quiet inning of relief, Cleveland took advantage of Lucas Gilbreath’s ill-timed throwing error in the top of the seventh. With Steven Kwan on first, Gilbreath rifled an attempted pick-off over Joe, advancing Kwan to third. He scored the Guardians’ fourth run on a sacrifice fly to deep center one batter later. With quiet bats, the second error of the game only exacerbated the Rockies’ woes.
Colorado finally got to McKenzie in the fifth. Serven smashed a triple to deep right-center field to lead off the inning before Joe sent him home with a single to left. Three consecutive outs stifled whatever momentum the Rockies had mounted.
