Connor Joe’s audition for a big-time role with the Rockies next season got another boost Friday night in San Francisco.
In the ninth inning, the outfielder hit a two-run homer off a 95 mph fastball from Giants closer Jake McGee, the former Rockie. And then Charlie Blackmon almost hit a two-run homer into McCovey Cove, only to see his sky-high shot to right go just foul.
Alas, the rally wasn’t enough for the road-challenged Rockies, who lost, 5-4, to the mighty Giants.
“Connor is showing us really good major league at-bats against major league pitching,” manager Bud Black said. “That’s the thing that sticks out to me, the coaching staff and his teammates.
“He’s on pitches. He’s swinging at strikes, taking balls. The swing is crisp and there is bat speed through the zone. And he’s trying to make a statement, simple as that.”
After Joe’s sixth homer of the season, Brendan Rodgers singled, as did Blackmon. But Zack Littel came on to strike out C.J. Cron and save the game.
And so the Rockies dropped another road game at Oracle Park. The Giants, who own the best record in the majors (75-41), have won seven of eight games against Colorado this season at the Ballpark by the Bay.
Joe, who’s hitting .287 with a .844 OPS, is filling in for the injured Raimel Tapia in left field. He’s trying to make the most of every opportunity, something he’s done since signing a minor league deal before spring training.
“I’ve taken that approach this whole year,” Joe said. “I have the same mindset every day I come to the park. I try to bring some joy, try to bring some energy.”
Rockies lefty Austin Gomber, missing the usual sharp command of his off-speed pitches, was gone after four innings and 78 pitches. The Giants jumped the lefty in the first, beginning with Austin Slater’s leadoff double. A one-out walk by Buster Posey set the table for Wilmer Flores’ three-run homer to left-center. Flores clobbered a hanging changeup from Gomber.
Then Donovan Solano drew the second walk of the inning and came around to score via back-to-back singles by Mike Yastrzemski and Thairo Estrada, making it 4-0.
The Giants’ waylaying Gomber was not an aberration. In an April 26 start at Oracle Park, he pitched just 1 2/3 innings, allowing nine runs on seven hits and four walks.
“Every time I have faced them this year, I haven’t been able to get into a rhythm,” Gomber said. “They really grind and they just put good at-bats on me.”
The Rockies, who appeared to be making some headway on their previous road trip when they went 4-6 on the West Coast, are sliding back into the ditch. They are 0-4 on the current trip.
Colorado’s road record, the worst in the majors, is 13-44 (.228), putting them on pace to finish 18-63. The worst road record in a 162-game season belongs to the 1963 New York Mets and 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates, both of whom went 17-64 (.210).
At least the Rockies’ hibernating offense showed glimpses of life Friday, with an 11-hit night.
They plated solo runs in the second and third innings against right-hander Anthony DeSclafani. In the second, Sam Hilliard walked, advance to third on Garrett Hampson’s single and scored on Gomber’s sacrifice bunt. In the third, Ryan McMahon doubled and Cron singled him home for his 61st RBI of the season.
The Rockies had plenty of chances but finished the night hitting 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Nothing unusual there. On the road, the Rockies are hitting just .191 in the clutch.
DeSclafani, his shoulder apparently fine after a short stint on the injured list, pitched five innings, allowing five hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
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August 14, 2021 at 12:28PM
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Connor Joe launches two-run homer in ninth, but Rockies lose to Giants - The Denver Post
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