The Rockies’ wobbly bullpen received some much-needed support Friday.
In the wake of their relievers’ workload and reoccurring meltdown, the club made a pair of roster moves ahead of its game against the Phillies. The Rockies called up right-hander John Curtiss and Matt Carasiti from Triple-A Albuquerque.
To make room on the 26-man roster, they optioned right-hander Peter Lambert to Triple-A and designated right-hander Matt Koch for assignment. To open a spot on the 40-man roster spot, the Rockies transferred left-handed Kyle Freeland (elbow soreness) to the 60-day injured list.
Manager Bud Black explained that the moves were necessary to get “some fresh arms” into the ‘pen. Colorado played consecutive extra-inning games against the A’s on Wednesday and Thursday. The Rockies won Wednesday night’s game in 12 innings but lost Thursday’s 11-inning game in excruciating fashion. The bullpen blew leads in the ninth, 10th, and 11th innings, coughing up five runs in the 11th in a 10-9 defeat.
Black said Lambert, who walked in the winning run on Thursday, needs a tune-up. Black added that Lambert needs better command of his fastball and changeup.
The veteran Curtiss, 31, signed a minor league deal in January. He’s posted an ugly 6.75 ERA over 21 1/3 innings with the Isotopes. Still, Black said the numbers are skewed by Albuquerque’s hitter-friendly environment and that the bullpen could use Curtiss’ veteran presence.
Carasiti has one option remaining, so the Rockies can still move him between Denver and Albuquerque.
Freeland’s move to the 60-day IL is not a setback. His stint on the IL is retroactive to April 16 and he’s still on track to return to the mound in June. Freeland is throwing off the mound again and will soon incorporate breaking balls into his bullpens.
Wrong side of history. So, just how rare was the Rockies’ meltdown Thursday afternoon in Oakland? According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rockies became just the fourth team in major league history to blow a lead of at least four runs two distinct times in the seventh inning or later and lose a game.
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