Jul 22, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies middle fielder Brenton Doyle (9) runs to second on an RBI double within the third inning in opposition to the Boston Crimson Sox at Coors Discipline. Obligatory Credit score: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports activities Again in Might, the San Diego Padres welcomed the Colorado Rockies to city after taking a weekend collection from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Seemingly able to get on a roll, San Diego as an alternative misplaced all three video games.
On Friday evening, the Padres will host the Rockies once more, this time after sweeping a two-game set from Los Angeles that introduced them inside 4 1/2 video games of the Nationwide League West-leading Dodgers.
Can the Padres proceed their latest run — 9 wins in 10 video games — or will they stumble over a second-division group once more?
“Each recreation we’re enjoying proper now’s extraordinarily vital,” mentioned San Diego pitcher Dylan Stop, who has gained his previous 4 begins and allowed only one run in his previous 27 2/3 innings. “We have to proceed to convey this focus and depth to each recreation we’re enjoying.”
Meaning beating dangerous groups in addition to good groups. San Diego has gained 4 straight collection, three of them in opposition to first-place golf equipment (the Cleveland Guardians, the Baltimore Orioles and the Dodgers). To maintain the momentum going, the Padres cannot take Colorado and its 40-70 document as a right.
“Our objectives have not modified at any level throughout the season,” Padres supervisor Mike Shildt mentioned. “It has been to win the division. We all know it is a tall order and a aggressive division, so we’re simply going about enjoying and caring for our enterprise.”
Randy Vasquez (3-6, 4.82 ERA) will take the ball for the Padres within the collection opener, hoping to bounce again from a rocky begin in an 8-6 loss at Baltimore on Sunday. Vasquez lasted solely two-plus innings, permitting six runs on 4 hits and 4 walks with two strikeouts.
The precise-hander has confronted the Rockies twice in his profession, each occasions this season, and he’s 0-1 with a 12.79 ERA in opposition to them.
On April 25 in Denver, Vasquez got here away with a no-decision regardless of pitching solely 2 2/3 innings and yielding 4 runs. In San Diego on Might 13, the Rockies obtained him for 5 runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings as Colorado gained 5-4.
Whereas San Diego aspires to maintain enjoying into October, Colorado has 52 video games of string left to play out. The Rockies are 2-5 on a 10-game West Coast journey after rallying Thursday evening for a 5-4 win in 10 innings over the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif.
Jake Cave pressured further innings with a two-out, two-run homer within the prime of the ninth, and a throwing error on Sam Hilliard’s sacrifice bunt within the prime of the tenth introduced within the profitable run.
Left-hander Austin Gomber (2-7, 4.79 ERA) will make his third begin of the yr in opposition to the Padres, and he did effectively within the first two.
Gomber gave up just one run over 5 innings in a no-decision on April 22, after which pitched six scoreless innings, surrendering solely two hits, in an 8-0 victory on Might 15.
Most just lately, the host San Francisco Giants obtained to Gomber for 3 runs and 6 hits and a stroll in 3 2/3 innings on Sunday. He struck out six and left after throwing 85 pitches in a recreation the Giants gained 5-4.
Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and middle fielder Brenton Doyle had been each scorching earlier than every went 0-for-5 on Thursday.
Tovar noticed hit career-best 17-game hitting streak finish. Doyle slugged 11 homers in July, tying the Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker for probably the most within the majors, however he fanned thrice whereas going hitless to open August.
Colorado supervisor Bud Black mentioned Doyle deserves to be the NL Participant of the Month.
“It is an awesome signal of stability and self-confidence,” Black mentioned. “Know your expertise goes to get you out of (a stoop).”
–Discipline Stage Media