The Rockies were eliminated from the playoffs a month ago, so Tuesday night’s game at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park was the closest they would come to postseason vibes.
For seven innings, the Rockies were up to the test. But, ultimately, the Rockies flunked, losing a 4-3 gut-puncher when the Mariners scored three runs in the eighth off relievers Juan Mejia and Victor Vodnik.
The sizzling Mariners won for the 15th time in 16 games, clinched an American League playoff berth, and moved a step closer to winning the AL West title.
Rockies rookie right-hander McCade Brown pitched like an ace for five innings, and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar gave the Rockies a 3-1 lead in the sixth. What’s more, Rockies pitchers combined for a season-high 16 strikeouts. But it wasn’t enough.
Seattle managed only three hits, but it cobbled together a rally in the eighth, culminating with Josh Naylor’s three-run double off Vodnik. The inning began ominously for Colorado. Mejia plunked pinch-hitter Luke Raley, and then he walked J.P. Crawford. Mejia rallied to strike out Randy Arozarena and AL MVP favorite Cal Raleigh, but then hit Julio Rodriguez, loading the bases.
Interim manager Warren Schaeffer called on Vodnik, his closer, to put out the fire. He couldn’t. Naylor blasted Vodik’s 2-0 fastball into left-center to score three runs, and Seattle fans began celebrating.
Lost in the Rockies’ 114th defeat of the season was Brown’s breakout performance. With his fastball hopping at 97 mph and his sharp slider baffling the Mariners, he struck out a career-high 10 in just five innings. Six of his strikeouts came on his sinking fastball, two on his slider, and two on his curveball. How off-balance did he keep Seattle batters? They struck out five times looking.
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Brown’s track record did not suggest an ace-like performance. The Rockies lost all of his first five big-league starts, and he was 0-4 with a 9.88 ERA coming into Tuesday night’s game. Over his first five starts, he had a total of 11 Ks.
Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the second on a double by Jordan Beck and an RBI single by Kyle Karros. It took a 3-1 lead in the sixth, combining Mickey Moniak’s leadoff double, a walk by Blaine Crim, and Tovar’s two-run single to right.
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