If the Rockies are indeed shopping a few of their veterans as the Aug. 1 trade deadline looms, they did a bang-up job of advertising Friday night.
In a 6-1 win over Miami at loanDepot Park, first baseman C.J. Cron hit a two-run homer in the first, left fielder Jurickson Profar launched a two-run, opposite-field shot in the second and catcher Elias Diaz lifted a solo shot to left in the third. All three, to varying degrees, have been the subject of trade rumors.
“We did some early damage and putting the ball over the fence is a good thing,” manager Bud Black told reporters in Miami. “We haven’t had enough of that this year, but lately it’s starting to come. Hopefully, it continues.”
Right-hander Peter Lambert, called up from Triple-A Albuquerque Friday, gave Colorado a much-needed quality start and cemented a spot in Colorado’s injury-battered rotation. It was Lambert’s first victory on the road since his major league debut on June 6, 2019, over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
“It felt great and it’s been a while since I’ve been out there with a full start,” Lambert told reporters, adding that he felt good enough to pitch deeper into the game but understood why Black pulled him after five innings.
Added Black: “Peter threw the ball well and I really like how he established his fastball. It had a lot of life to it in the hitting area. And I think his secondary (pitches) worked because of the fastball. Tonight is how I visualize Peter throwing the ball. That was a good sign tonight.”
The Marlins plated their only run in the seventh against Pierce Johnson, who gave up singles to Bryan De La Cruz and Jean Segura, uncorked a wild pitch and saw De La Cruz score on Nick Fortes’ groundout. Miami is 0-7 since the All-Star break.
The Rockies typically struggle to hit against the Marlins in South Florida — just eight wins in their last 29 games — but they punished right-hander Braxton Garrett, who gave up six runs on seven hits in three innings.
The last time the Rockies hit three home runs in the first three innings in a road game was on June 27, 2009, at Oakland. In the 11-9 victory over the A’s, Colorado actually hit a home run in each of the first four innings. Brad Hawpe hit a homer in the first, Ian Stewart in the second, Clint Barmes in the third and Seth Smith in the fourth.
Cron, the Rockies’ lone All-Star last season, is hitting like an All-Star again. He’s hit a home run in four of his last five games, including a grand slam Sunday in Colorado’s dramatic 8-7, 11-inning win over the Yankees. Cron was 2 for 5 Friday, and over his last 17 games since coming off the injured list after rehabbing a back injury, he’s hit .317 with five homers, two doubles and 11 RBIs.
Lambert made a major statement with his five scoreless innings, proving he belongs in the rotation going forward. The right-hander allowed just three hits, struck out three and walked one. He threw 77 pitches, 51 for strikes.
Lambert’s only tricky inning was the first when Luis Arraez drew a leadoff walk and Jesus Sanchez hit a two-out double to right. But Lambert escaped by getting De La Cruz to pop out to Cron in foul territory near first base.
Colorado entered the game with a 6.48 starters’ ERA, the highest in the majors. The Rockies have been blown out early in a lot of games. Entering Friday’s game, they had 53 games in which their starter pitched five or more innings. They were 29-24 in those games with a combined ERA of 3.41.
But in games in which a starter has failed to make it out of the fifth, the Rockies were 8-35 with a combined ERA of 12.76.
Saturday’s pitching matchup
Rockies RHP Chase Anderson (0-4, 6.26 ERA) at Marlins TBA
11:10 a.m. Saturday, LoanDepot Park
TV: ATTRM
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
Anderson’s last start was an excellent, much-needed rebound performance. The veteran right-hander pitched five scoreless innings in Colorado’s 8-7 win over the Yankees. In his four prior starts, he was 0-4 with an 18.23 ERA. Anderson is 0-2 with an 8.83 ERA in four road starts this season, giving up eight home runs in those four games. Anderson did not get a decision in the Rockies’ 5-3 win over the Marlins on May 23 at Coors Field, allowing two runs on eight hits across 5 2/3 innings. He is 3-3 with a 4.04 ERA in 11 career games (10 starts) against Miami.
Pitching probables
Sunday: Rockies TBA at Marlins LHP Jesus Luzardo (8-5, 3.34), 11:40 a.m., ATTRM
Monday: Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (8-8, 6.18) at Nationals LHP Patrick Corbin (6-10, 4.89), 5:05 p.m., ATTRM
Want more Rockies news? Sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis.
