Austin Gomber was fired up in the seventh.
Against the Kansas City Royals, the Rockies starting pitcher desperately needed to get out of a tough spot in order to maintain his team’s two-run advantage. With one out and runners at the corners, Gomber forced Royals second baseman Garrett Hampson to pop out and had center fielder Kyle Isbel fly out before letting out a loud scream and pumping his fist, as he walked towards the dugout.
Gomber hasn’t earned a victory since May 15. But on Saturday night at Coors Field, he finally earned his second win of the season, helping the Rockies beat Kansas City 3-1.
Gomber gave up one run on six hits and recorded three strikeouts in seven innings on the mound. He kept the Royals scoreless for five straight innings before giving up a solo home run to first baseman Vinny Pasquantino in the sixth inning.
“That’s the best result I’ve had in a while,” Gomber said. “I thought I commanded the fastball, especially early in the count and down in the zone. I think that’s the best version of me.”
The Royals’ attempt at a comeback fell flat. Kansas City had runners on first and second with two outs when Colorado relief pitcher Victor Vodnik forced Michael Massey to ground out to first to end the game.
After a quiet first inning from both sides, center fielder Brenton Doyle ignited a spark in the bottom of the second. Second baseman Brendon Rodgers reached first on an error before Doyle crushed a two-run homer off Royals starter Seth Lugo. Doyle has four home runs and nine RBIs this week.
“He’s hitting everything, not just one pitch,” manager Bud Black said of Doyle. “His timing is right and he’s seeing the ball well.”
While the Rockies jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, Gomber kept the Royals in check. He allowed a leadoff single in the first but then kept Kansas City hitless for two straight innings. The Royals, however, threatened to cut down Colorado’s lead in the fourth.
With two outs, catcher Salvador Perez singled followed by a right fielder Hunter Renfroe’s double to put runners on the second and third. Gomber remained calm and managed to get out of the jam by throwing back-to-back knuckle curveballs to strikeout left fielder MJ Melendez.
“(Perez) jammed a soft liner then (there) was a ground down the line. (But) I was still cruising,” Gomber said. “I was throwing the ball really well.”
Just like the Royals, Colorado wasted an opportunity to drive in runs in the bottom half of the inning. Rodgers hit a leadoff double to center before Doyle reached first on a walk. But Lugo would eventually force right fielder Jake Cave to ground into a double play then Michael Toglia hit a grounder to first.
The Rockies managed to add to their lead in the fifth when third baseman Ryan McMahon belted an RBI single up the middle of the field. McMahon was 3 for 3 with a walk.
Lugo allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out five batters in six innings. He entered the game with a 7-0 record and a 1.93 ERA on the road this season.
“That was a really good game against maybe the All-Star starter for the American League,” Black said. “(Lugo) is having a great year and (Gomber) out pitched him.”
Originally Published: July 6, 2024 at 9:33 p.m.
