As the Rockies flirt with the first 100-loss season in franchise history, they are sinking rapidly into National League West oblivion.
On a 95-degree Wednesday afternoon, they lost a 9-7 Coors Field slugfest to the Diamondbacks.
The loss dropped the Rockies’ record to 2-8 against the D-backs this season and left them a combined 8-27 against all of their NL West foes. That .229 winning percentage vs. the West is the lowest in franchise history.
Colorado (46-75), losers of 11 of its last 15 games, is on pace to finish 62-100.
Rockies killer Christian Walker launched a pair of two-run homers, including a go-ahead blast off Tyler Kinley in the eighth to lift the Diamondbacks to victory.
Walker now has 13 homers against Colorado since 2018, tied with the Dodgers’ Max Muncy for the second-most during that span. Arizona’s Ketel Marte has 14 homers. Walker, who has hit five home runs over his last five games, finished the three-game series slashing .545/.643/1.727 (6 for 11) with four homers, a double and nine RBIs.
“He’s got a lot of pop, we’ve seen him a lot of the years and he’s done damage against us,” said Rockies left-hander Austin Gomber, who served up a two-run homer to Walker in the first. “You’ve just got to be ahead of him but I was behind him all day. It makes for a much easier job for him.”
Lost in the loss was another big day from rookie outfielder Nolan Jones, who notched another outfield assist and hit a two-run homer in the sixth to put Colorado briefly ahead, 7-6. The 25-year-old is tied with Brad Hawpe in 2005 for the franchise rookie record for most outfield assists in a season, with 10.
Gomber pitched a solid game, up until an ugly sixth inning, that is, when the Diamondbacks scored four runs to take a 6-3 lead.
“I didn’t feel tired I just lost command of the zone,” he said.
It’s become a rare event when Gomber walks a hitter, but he walked three in the sixth, including a free pass to Buddy Kennedy with the bases loaded to force in a run. Jake Bird replaced Gomber and Nick Ahmed drilled a three-run triple off the right-field fence. Ahmed almost had a rare, grand-slam, inside-the-park homer but was thrown out at the plate on a relay from Jones to first baseman Elehuris Montero to catch Austin Wynns.
Bryant on first? Right fielder Kris Bryant remains on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left index finger but when he returns he could see some playing time at first base.
“Potentially, yes,” said manager Bud Black, adding that he has not yet spoken to Bryant about making the switch from right fielder to first base. “One of Kris’ advantages as a player, and this has been well-documented when he was with the Cubs, is that he played all over.”
Using Bryan at first would ensure continued playing time for young outfielders Jones and Michael Toglia. Bryant has started 23 games at first base during his nine-year career.
He’s been on the injured list since July 22 and has missed 24 games. An X-ray of Bryant’s finger on Monday showed that the fracture had not healed. There is no timetable for Bryant’s return but the club expects him to play again this season.
Pitching probables
The Rockies are off on Thursday before hosting a three-game series vs. the White Sox beginning Friday night.
Thursday: Off day
Friday: White Sox RHP Michael Kopech (5-10, 4.58 ERA) at Rockies RHP Peter Lambert (2-4, 5.46), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
Saturday: White Sox RHP Jesse Scholtens (1-5, 3.20) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (4-13, 4.94), 6:10 p.m., ATTRM
Sunday: White Sox RHP Dylan Cease (5-6, 4.32) at Rockies RHP Chris Flexen (1-5, 7.74), 1:10 p.m., ATTRM
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