Brendan Rodgers hit a two-run home run in the second inning, helping the Colorado Rockies score six runs in total. Ty Blach, despite a rough start, only allowed two runs in seven innings as the Rockies defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-4 on Wednesday night.
The Rockies, who were in last place, have now won three series in a row. They have been playing much better lately, going 12-7 after a tough start to the season where they won only 8 out of their first 36 games.
“We believed in ourselves even during the tough times. We always thought we could win,” said Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings. “Now we’re showing it on the field.”
Eight out of the nine players in the Rockies’ lineup got a hit, and several players, including Stallings, Ryan McMahon, Elias Díaz, Sean Bouchard, and Hunter Goodman, drove in runs.
This strong offensive performance led to the Rockies scoring their second-highest run total in an inning this season, which forced the Guardians’ starting pitcher, Logan Allen, out of the game.
In the ninth inning, Rockies reliever Tyler Kinley gave up two runs, and it got tense with the tying run at the plate, but he managed to strike out Andrés Giménez to secure the win.
After a tough first inning where he gave up three hits, two runs, and two walks, Blach bounced back and didn’t allow any more runs over the next six innings. He said it’s important to stay focused, especially in a ballpark like Coors Field where anything can happen.
“You kind of take that approach mentally before every game and say, hey, no matter what it is, I’ve got to stay locked in and make pitches. If it’s a bad first inning, find a way to bounce back and eat as many innings as you can because we know we can put up a six-spot in a hurry in this ballpark,” Blach said.
