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Oh, the weather was frightful at Coors Field on Friday night. Heavy rains hit the stadium some time before first pitch between the Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals.
After the rain was pushed off the field, the Rockies went out and washed away the Royals in the first game of their three-game weekend series.
Colorado scored early and made it stick, thanks to some stellar pitching from Tomoyuki Sugano. It might have been Sugano's final start in a Rockies uniform as the MLB Trade Deadline draws nearer on Aug. 3.
If you are looking for signs of improvement from this franchise, then consider this. Colorado won its 43rd game this season on Friday, July 31. Want to know when the Rockies won their 43rd game last season? It was on Sept. 21, 2025, when they improved to 43-113.
Let's spend a little time looking at three takeaways from the game.
You know, the Rockies really needed a starting pitcher to step up and take the reins. Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer had to be extremely pleased with what he saw Sugano do against Kansas City's lineup.
In 6.2 innings of work, Sugano allowed one earned run, struck out two, and didn't give up a walk. He's now 11-4 this season with a 4.47 ERA. If that indeed was Sugano's last start in front of the Coors Field faithful, then he truly left on a high note.
Sugano is the first Rockies' starting pitcher with three consecutive quality starts at Coors Field since Kyle Freeland did it between June 11-July 18, 2025.
Antonio Senzatela, who also has had his name listed in trade talk, worked two-thirds of an inning, giving up a hit while striking out one. Brennan Bernardino followed and also worked two-thirds of an inning against the Royals. He didn't allow an earned run and walked one.
Rockies closer Jordan Romano picked up his ninth save, working a clean ninth inning while recording one strikeout.
This is the type of pitching that Schaeffer really needs to see for the rest of the 2026 season.
The Rockies' offense only mustered up two runs together while another run scored on an error.
Third baseman Kyle Karros went 2-for-3 with a run scored and one strikeout. First baseman TJ Rumfield and center fielder Brenton Doyle had the only RBIs on the night. Rumfield went 1-for-4 at the plate, while Doyle put up a 1-for-3 night. Both of their RBIs came with two outs, a clutch effort for both of them.
Mickey Moniak, Colorado's designated hitter, went 1-for-4. Rockies fans will be looking at their phones all weekend long to see if Moniak or Jake McCarthy are part of any trades put together by Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes.
Colorado had just five hits off of Rockies' pitching, but made that work at Coors Field.
Final score: Rockies 3, Royals 1.
As much as catcher Hunter Goodman has been a power hitter right in the middle of the Rockies' lineup, he's been striking out a bit more lately.
Unfortunately, that trend continued against the Royals. Goodman went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Goodman is now hitting .251 with an .863 OPS. There continues to be a flood of information about whether Goodman does or does not get traded before the trade deadline.
He gets another chance to right his hitting ship on Saturday night as these two teams go at it once again at Coors Field.
Continue reading...
After the rain was pushed off the field, the Rockies went out and washed away the Royals in the first game of their three-game weekend series.
Colorado scored early and made it stick, thanks to some stellar pitching from Tomoyuki Sugano. It might have been Sugano's final start in a Rockies uniform as the MLB Trade Deadline draws nearer on Aug. 3.
If you are looking for signs of improvement from this franchise, then consider this. Colorado won its 43rd game this season on Friday, July 31. Want to know when the Rockies won their 43rd game last season? It was on Sept. 21, 2025, when they improved to 43-113.
Let's spend a little time looking at three takeaways from the game.
Tomoyuku Sugano was on his 'A' game
You know, the Rockies really needed a starting pitcher to step up and take the reins. Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer had to be extremely pleased with what he saw Sugano do against Kansas City's lineup.
In 6.2 innings of work, Sugano allowed one earned run, struck out two, and didn't give up a walk. He's now 11-4 this season with a 4.47 ERA. If that indeed was Sugano's last start in front of the Coors Field faithful, then he truly left on a high note.
Sugano is the first Rockies' starting pitcher with three consecutive quality starts at Coors Field since Kyle Freeland did it between June 11-July 18, 2025.
Antonio Senzatela, who also has had his name listed in trade talk, worked two-thirds of an inning, giving up a hit while striking out one. Brennan Bernardino followed and also worked two-thirds of an inning against the Royals. He didn't allow an earned run and walked one.
Rockies closer Jordan Romano picked up his ninth save, working a clean ninth inning while recording one strikeout.
This is the type of pitching that Schaeffer really needs to see for the rest of the 2026 season.
Rumfield, Doyle pick up RBIs
The Rockies' offense only mustered up two runs together while another run scored on an error.
Third baseman Kyle Karros went 2-for-3 with a run scored and one strikeout. First baseman TJ Rumfield and center fielder Brenton Doyle had the only RBIs on the night. Rumfield went 1-for-4 at the plate, while Doyle put up a 1-for-3 night. Both of their RBIs came with two outs, a clutch effort for both of them.
Mickey Moniak, Colorado's designated hitter, went 1-for-4. Rockies fans will be looking at their phones all weekend long to see if Moniak or Jake McCarthy are part of any trades put together by Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes.
Colorado had just five hits off of Rockies' pitching, but made that work at Coors Field.
Final score: Rockies 3, Royals 1.
Goodman struggled against Royals' pitching
As much as catcher Hunter Goodman has been a power hitter right in the middle of the Rockies' lineup, he's been striking out a bit more lately.
Unfortunately, that trend continued against the Royals. Goodman went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Goodman is now hitting .251 with an .863 OPS. There continues to be a flood of information about whether Goodman does or does not get traded before the trade deadline.
He gets another chance to right his hitting ship on Saturday night as these two teams go at it once again at Coors Field.
Continue reading...
