The bullpen blues struck the Rockies again on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Coors Field.
Toronto scored two runs off struggling closer Justin Lawrence in the ninth inning en route to a 7-5 victory that earned the Blue Jays a series win in the three-game set.
“The reality of the situation is just that I’ve let our team down the past three weeks, almost a month now,” an emotional Lawrence said, adding that he’s been working overtime but still getting bad results. “It’s frustrating because I’m not just going out there and doing the same thing and hoping for a different result. I’m talking to the coaches and watching film. It’s just tough right now.”
Lawrence also said that teams are likely studying him and figuring out some things about his pitching patterns. But mostly, the right-hander is sorry he’s letting his teammates down.
“This lineup, man, they fight every inning,” Lawrence said. “They fight back, from the top to the bottom, and it seems like something exciting happens on defense or offense with this group of guys.
“And when my name is called, I’m gonna go out there and get the job done. The fact that I haven’t been able to do that stinks. It hurts.”
The Blue Jays’ clutch hits came from Whit Merrifield and Ernie Clement, who delivered back-to-back RBI singles. Lawrence also walked Spencer Horwitz in the inning.
Manager Bud Black said that hitters are being more patient against Lawrence, in large part because Lawrence’s command has been lacking and his walk rate is up.
“He’s got to (throw) first-pitch strikes, stay aggressive,” Black said. “He’s tried, but it’s just not happening right now.”
Colorado has allowed 10-plus hits in eight consecutive home games, the longest such streak since a 10-game stretch from May 28 to June 18, 2018.
Sunday, the Rockies wasted another big day from a rookie.
Outfielder/first baseman Hunter Goodman’s first week in the majors has provided a tantalizing glimpse of what could be. He’s hit safely in five of six games for a .381 average.
Sunday, Goodman drew a walk from All-Star Kevin Gausman in the second inning and stole the first base of his infant career. Goodman’s double off Gausman drove in Elehuris Montero in the fourth, and his two-run double off reliever Trevor Richards scored Brendan Rodgers and Montero to tie the game, 5-5.
Ryan McMahon’s RBI double, followed up by Nolan Jones’ run-scoring single, gave Colorado a 2-1 lead in the third.
Colorado right-hander Chase Anderson, returning from shoulder soreness and starting for the first time since July 22, gave the Rockies four solid innings before a 59-minute rain delay. Anderson allowed two runs on four hits, with three strikeouts and two walks.
Toronto blasted two solo homers off Anderson — a two-out rocket to left by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the third and a leadoff blast to right by Spencer Horwitz in the fourth. Horwitz’s homer, his first of the season, traveled 442 feet and bounced off the second-deck facade.
Gausman, a graduate of Grandview High School, allowed three runs on six hits, with three walks and five strikeouts over four innings.
Bard to IL. Struggling right-handed reliever Daniel Bard was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with what the team called right forearm fatigue. The move, retroactive to Saturday, opened a spot on the roster for Anderson to make the start Sunday.
Bard, who shined last season as Colorado’s closer, has struggled with command and walks most of the season and his walk rate of 8.8 per nine innings is well above the major league rate of 3.3. Over his last four games (3 1/3 innings), Bard’s given up 12 runs (seven earned) on 10 hits. His 18.90 ERA over those four outings has pushed his overall ERA up to 4.70.
Bard opened the season on the injured list as he dealt with anxiety.
Monday’s pitching matchup
Rockies RHP Peter Lambert (3-5, 4.95 ERA) at Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (10-6, 3.31)
2:10 p.m. Monday, Chase Field
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
After elbow injuries stalled his career, Lambert was itching to get back into the starting rotation. He’s making the most of his chance. In nine starts he has an excellent 3.60 ERA and has shown poise on the mound. In Lambert’s last start, the Braves tagged him for three runs on nine hits over five innings but he never let the game spin out of control. His lone career start against Arizona was on Aug. 12, 2019, at Coors Field when he allowed three runs over five innings with a career-high five walks vs. one strikeout. Kelly is coming off a rocky start vs. the Dodgers, a team that has dominated him. He was charged with seven runs on 12 hits and three walks while striking out just one over five innings. Overall, however, Kelly has been pitching well, allowing three or fewer runs in five of his last six starts. He’s 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 16 strikeouts in two starts vs. Colorado this season, with both of the games coming at Coors Field.
Pitching probables
Tuesday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (5-14, 5.18) at Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (1-7, 6.21), 7:40 p.m., ATTRM
Wednesday: Rockies RHP Chris Flexen (1-6, 6.89) at Diamondbacks RHP Zach Davies (2-5, 6.45), 1:40 p.m., ATTRM
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