And the song remains the same.
Hampered by poor starting pitching and an inability to get the big hit in the big moment, the Rockies lost 5-3 to Pittsburgh Tuesday night at Coors Field. An announced crowd of 19,495 watched Colorado lose its seventh consecutive game as the Pirates lit up starter Jose Urena to clinch the three-game series.
“We just couldn’t get over the hump (tonight),” veteran designated hitter Charlie Blackmon said. “I think most guys understand that we just have to keep grinding and do the best you can do, pick up your teammates and play team baseball.
“It’s so early and there is so much baseball left. I think most guys realize that we are just trying to stay on an even keel right now.”
Maybe so, but at 5-13, Colorado has the worst record in franchise history after 18 games, as well as the worst record in the National League. The Rockies have yet to win a series this season, losing four series and splitting two.
“Guys are pulling hard for each other and working hard,” manager Bud Black said. “It will turn around, we just have to play a little better. We have to make better pitches, get the big hit, make the big play. That’s what it takes.”
The Rockies came out swinging in the first inning against Pittsburgh right-hander Vince Velasquez. Kris Bryant hit a one-out solo homer, Bryant’s second Coors Field homer in as many games. A single by C.J. Cron, a double by Ryan McMahon and a two-run double by Elias Diaz put Colorado ahead 3-0.
But Velasquez found his rhythm and held the Rockies scoreless over the next five innings, allowing only one more hit, a two-out single by Ezequiel Tovar in the fourth. It wasn’t a dominant performance — three runs allowed on five hits over six innings — but Velasquez struck out seven and the Rockies were 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position against him.
The Rockies had a prime opportunity to alter their fate in the eighth when McMahon led off with a double and Diaz followed with a single. But former Rockies right-hander Robert Stephenson struck out Yonathan Daza looking, Alan Trejo lined out sharply to third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes and pinch hitter Mike Moustakas drilled a ball to deep left only to see Bryan Reynolds make a sweet over-the-shoulder catch for the third out.
Blackmon hit a two-out double in the ninth but Cron struck out to end the game. The Rockies finished the game hitting 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position and are hitting .158 (9-for-57) in the clutch during their losing streak.
“It’s frustrating,” Black said. “I think part of it is the effort level is a little bit too high because of what we are going through with the slump. Guys want to be the guy and you expand the zone. It happens across baseball.”
Urena pitched well for the first three innings, save for the opposite-field solo homer Jack Suwkinski in the second. But as so often happens with Urena, he was unable to sustain his success, and home runs continue to haunt him, which explains his 9.82 ERA after four starts.
The Pirates ambushed him in their four-run fourth to take a 5-3 lead. Former Rockie Connor Joe led off with a ground-rule double that hopped the left-field wall and Joe scored on Carlos Santana’s double off the right-field wall. Suwinski followed with his second homer, a 434-foot blast to right.
The Pirates, a much speedier team than Colorado, added another run when Tucupita Marcano tripled to right and scored on Urena’s wild pitch. The right-hander pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on five hits. He’s served up seven homers in just 14 2/3 innings, with six of them coming at Coors. Urena’s 14 homers given up are tied for the most in the majors.
The two teams hook up again Wednesday afternoon with the Rockies looking to avoid a three-game sweep.
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