COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
THE DISTRICT
- The Colorado Rockies continue the first road trip of the second half tonight with the second of three games at Washington.
- The Rockies took two of three from the Marlins to begin the road trip, clinching their first series win in Miami since taking two of three from the Marlins Aug. 23-25, 2013 when current Rockies’ Bench Coach Mike Redmond managed the Fish.
- The Rockies entered the road trip coming off a 3-2 homestand after splitting the series with Houston 1-1 and taking two of three from the Yankees last Friday-Sunday … was the club’s first winning homestand since taking five of seven against the Marlins (3-1) and Mets (2-1) May 22-28 … the three consecutive series wins, tacking on Miami, marks the Rockies’ second such streak of the season, their first since May 2-10 against Milwaukee (3-0), at New York-NL (2-1) and at Pittsburgh (2-1).
- The Rockies are 6-3 since the All-Star Break, a .667 winning percentage that is second in the National League trailing Milwaukee (7-3, .700).
ABOUT LAST NIGHT
- The Rockies collected 16 hits last night, tied for their second-most in a game this season, their most since matching that number on April 30 vs. Arizona … scored 10 runs, their third time this season score 10 or more in a road game (last: May 9 at Pittsburgh).
- Colorado scored twice in each inning from the sixth to the ninth, the first time in franchise history the team has scored multiple runs in four consecutive innings in a road game.
STREAKING
- C.J. Cron has an extra-base hit in each of his last five games, tied for the longest active streak in the Majors and tied for the second-longest of his career (longest: six games, May 12-17, 2018) … since returning from the IL on June 27 (lower back strain), Cron is 19-for-60 (.317) with five home runs and 11 RBI.
- Randal Grichuk extended his hitting streak to eight games last night, tied for the fifth-longest active streak and tied for second-longest in the NL, trailing Washington’s Keibert Ruiz (9 games) … slashing .433/.452/.800 through this stretch with two doubles, three home runs and six RBI.
THIS FOR THAT
- The Colorado Rockies announced yesterday that they acquired RHP Victor Vodnik and RHP Tanner Gordon from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for RHP Pierce Johnson … Vodnik (10th) and Gordon (26th) were most recently ranked among the Braves top 30 prospects via MLB.com.
- Vodnik, 23, has gone 3-1 with a 3.10 ERA (40.2 IP, 14 ER), 25 walks and 56 strikeouts in 30 relief outings for Double-A Mississippi this season, the third-most appearances in the Southern League … Gordon, 25, has split the 2023 season between Triple-A Gwinnett and Mississippi, combining to go 5-9 with a 5.86 ERA (86.0 IP, 56 ER) in 17 games (16 starts).
START ME UP…PLEASE
- In 2023, the Rockies have had 55 games in which the starter pitched five or more innings, going 31-24 in those contests with a combined ERA of 3.38 ERA (309.1 IP, 116 ER) … in contests where the starter has failed to make it out of the fifth inning, the Rockies are 9-36 with a combined ERA of 12.34 (151.0 IP, 207 ER).
- The club’s 55 starts of five or more innings pitched are the fewest in the Majors … left-handers Kyle Freeland (16) and Austin Gomber (13) lead the club in starts of five or more frames.
POWER PLAY
- Nolan Jones hit his ninth home run of the season last night, his fourth in his last eight games … on home runs, his average exit velocity of 109.3 MPH and average distance of 438 feet both lead the Majors among players with eight or more home runs … the second-longest average home run distance is 423 feet held by Evan Longoria, Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Elias Díaz.
- In 13 games in July, Jones is slashing .195/.250/.488 with four of his eight hits leaving the yard … is 6-for-22 through his last five games, 4-for-12 over his last three.
FREQUENT FLIERS
- The Rockies have used 48 total players this season, tied for the sixth-most in the Majors and their most since using 50 total players in 2019.
- 29 different players have made a pitching appearance, the Rockies’ most pitchers used since a franchise-record 31 different pitchers made an appearance in 2019 … Sunday’s starter LHP Ty Blach marked the 14th starter for the Rockies in 2023, their most since the 2014 club tied the franchise record with 15 starting pitchers (also: 1993).
THE ROOKIE, THE FATHER
- Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar has begun his Rockies career by starting 102 consecutive games, the longest stretch of consecutive starts without a bench appearance to
begin a Rockies’ career, per Elias … the previous streak was 69 games by Trevor Story in 2016. - The 21-year-old SS ranks among NL rookie leaders in doubles (22, 1st), batting average (.261, 3rd), hits (89, 3rd), extra-base hits (34, 3rd), RBI (46, 3rd), WAR
(1.7, 3rd), triples (three, T-4th), games (93, 3rd) and home runs (nine, T-8th). - Tovar’s 1.4 defensive WAR is tied for fourth overall in the NL, ranks tied for second among NL shortstops (min. 75% of games at SS) and is tied for the lead
among Major League rookies.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #26 AUSTIN GOMBER LHP
GO, GO GOMBER
- Winter Garden, Fla., native is in his 10th professional season, his fifth in the Majors and his third with the Rockies.
- Acquired by Colorado, along with four other players including INF Elehuris Montero in exchange for 3B Nolan Arenado.
- Originally selected by St. Louis in the fourth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida Atlantic University.
WALK THIS WAY
- Has three consecutive starts of at least six innings pitched, four or fewer earned runs and zero walks, matching David Hale (2015) and Denny Neagle (2001) for the longest such streak in franchise history.
- Dating back to June 14, Gomber has walked three batters through his last seven starts (41.1 IP) … has spun at least five frames and walked one or fewer while allowing four or fewer earned runs through each of these starts, tied with Aaron Cook (2005) for the longest such streak in franchise history … one of five pitchers in the Majors in 2023 with such a stretch of equal or greater length.
- Since May 6, his 1.93 BB/9 is the fifth-best in the National League.
HOARDER
- Won each of his four starts June 25-July 14, his second winning streak of four games this season … also won four-straight decisions April 24-May 23, the only Rockies starter with two streaks of four winning decisions this season … has also lost four-straight (April 2-19) and three-straight (June 9-19).
- Tossed a season-high seven innings at home on June 30 vs. Detroit … first Rockies pitcher to toss seven innings at Coors Field since Chad Kuhl’s complete game shutout against the Dodgers on June 27, 2022.
- Was the only Rockies starting pitcher to earn a win from May 23-July 21 … his win on June 25 snapped a 30-game stretch without a starting pitcher earning a win, the longest streak in franchise history and the seventh-longest in Major League history.
- Has spun six or more innings in four-consecutive starts, the longest stretch of the season for a Rockies’ starter.
ALL CAPS
- Is 2-2 with a 7.23 ERA (18.2 IP, 15 ER) against the Nationals in four career starts … 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA (12.2 IP, 2 ER) through his first two career starts against Washington, 0-2 with a 19.80 ERA (6.0 IP, 13 ER) through his last two.
HOW THE TURNTABLES…
- Began his season with four straight losses through April 19, the eighth time a Rockies starter has started 0-4 through their first four starts of a season … first since Roy Oswalt (five straight, June 20-Sept. 14) and Jeff Manship (four straight, Aug. 8-24) in 2013.
- Went 4-0 across his next six starts, April 24-May 23, posting a 3.74 ERA (33.2 IP, 14 ER) with three quality starts … Rockies went 7-1 over an eight-start Gomber stretch from April 24-June 3 (4-0, 4.91 ERA).
ON YOUR LEFT
- Left-handed hitters have hit .367 (29-for-79) with seven home runs off Gomber this season after he held opposing lefties to a .221 average in 2022 (30-for-136), the ninth-lowest in a single season in franchise history (min. 140 batters faced.).
- Left-handed hitters’ 1.148 OPS off Gomber the second-highest in the Majors (1.325, Bryan Woo).
- Entering this season lefties had slashed .236/.294/.373 (88-for-373) with 10 home runs off him.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS NOTES:
OPPONENT – COLORADO ROCKIES
The Nationals and Rockies will meet seven times this season (4 in COL, 3 in D.C.)…Nationals bullpen coach Henry Blanco played in Colorado during the 1999 season…First base coach Eric Young Jr. was drafted by the Rockies in the 30th round of the 2003 Draft and went on to spend five Major Leagues seasons (2009-13) with the Rockies…Colorado outfielder Brenton Doyle is from Warrenton, VA and graduated from Kettle Run High School in Nokesville before attending Shepard (WV) University.
MOVING ON
The Washington Nationals fell to the Colorado Rockies, 10-6, in the first game of this three-game series on Monday night.
- Jeimer Candelario went 2-for-4 with a double, homer, three RBI and two runs scored, while Keibert Ruiz (2-for-4, RBI, R) posted yet another multi-hit game.
- Following this series, the Nationals will head to New York (NL) for a four-game weekend series starting Thursday.
STATUS CHECK
The Nationals have won three of their last four, seven of their last 12 and are 13-12 (.520) since June 24… This stretch includes series victories over the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants.
CANDY CAN DO IT
Jeimer Candelario is third in the National League with 28 doubles and is tied for sixth with 46 extra-base hits…With 28 doubles and 16 home runs in 93 games, he’s already surpassed his 2022 totals (19 2B, 13 HR in 124 games).
BACKSTOP BAT
Keibert Ruiz is 15-for-32 (.469) with four doubles, two homers, seven RBI, four walks, one stolen base and seven runs scored during his career-best nine-game hitting streak…He’s reached base safely in 19 of 36 plate appearances (.528 OBP) during the streak.
LANE TRAIN
Lane Thomas is 6-for-16 (.375) with two doubles, a homer, three RBI, four stolen bases and four runs scored over his last four games.
- He ranks in the National League in hits (4th, 116), average (5th, .293), doubles (T4th, 26) and runs (10th, 67).
- He leads the National League (T2nd in MLB) with a career-high 10 outfield assists.
LEADING MAN
Since being moved to the leadoff spot on July 7, CJ Abrams is hitting .370 (20-for-54) with two doubles, a triple, three homers, six RBI, three walks, one hit by pitch, eight stolen bases and 14 runs scored…He’s hit safely in 11 of the 13 and has reached safely in 12 of the 13.
- Beyond the lasts 13 games, he is hitting .343 with a .562 slugging percentage (7 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR) and is 13-for-13 in stolen base attempts over his last 28 games.
- He has stolen 16 consecutive bases without being caught…Abrams was last caught stealing on May 3 vs. Chicago.
DOM(INATING)
Dominic Smith is hitting .321 with a .500 slugging percentage over his last 23 games…He has five doubles, three homers, 10 RBI, four walks, three hit by pitch and nine runs scored over this span.
- He is 9-for-20 (.450) over his last six games with four multi-hit games in his five starts over this span.
OK, KYLE
Kyle Finnegan has two saves, four holds and has pitched to a 1.06 ERA (2 ER/17.0 IP) with a .161 opponents’ average (9-for-56) in his last 14 appearances.
- He’s set a new career-high and is tied for 10th in the NL with 13 saves this season.
- Finnegan surrendered seven earned runs and three home runs in his first three outings…Since the next outing on April 7 at Colorado, he has pitched to a 1.83 ERA (8 ER/39.1 IP) with 40 strikeouts and three home runs allowed in 36 games.
NOBODY SHUTS OUT THE NATS
The Nationals have not been shut out since April 19 vs. Baltimore, a streak of 82 straight games…It is the longest active streak in Major League Baseball and the second-longest streak this season (87 G, Arizona, March 30-July 5).
TOP OF THE HOUR
The Nationals have scored 64 runs in the first inning this season, the fifth-most in Major League Baseball.
- Only the Atlanta Braves (100), Los Angeles Dodgers (78), Houston Astros (72) and San Diego Padres (67) have scored more runs in the first inning this season
STARTING PTICHER – #32 TREVOR WILLIAMS
Veteran right-handed starter signed a two-year contract with the Nationals in Dec. 2022…From 2018-21, Williams was exclusively a starter, but he transitioned to a versatile swingman in 2021 and 2022…He is 35-41 with a 4.33 ERA in 118 career starts and 3-3 with a 3.84 ERA in 41 relief outings…Was a second-round pick of the Miami Marlins in 2013 but was traded to Pittsburgh in 2015 while pitching in the Arizona Fall League.
LAST START
Allowed two earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout and two walks in 5.0 innings on July 19 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field…He took a no decision in the Nationals’ 8-3 defeat.
vs. COLORADO
Faces the Rockies for the second time this season…In his last start against Colorado, he allowed two earned runs on five hits and struck out four in 5.1 innings to earn the win at Coors Field…Williams is 3-2 with a 4.97 ERA (16 ER/ 29.0 IP) over five career starts against the Rockies.
POST-BREAK SUCCESS
Williams has pitched to a 3.64 ERA in 73 games (48 starts) after the All-Star break…That ERA is almost a run lower than his overall career ERA of 4.28.
START ME UP
Tonight marks Williams’ 21st start of the season…Because of his time as a reliever in 2021 and 2022, as well as the shortened season in 2020, his 21 starts are his most since he started 26 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019.
STRONG START
Williams opened the 2023 season going 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA (8 ER/21.1 IP) with 13 strikeouts and just four walks in his first four starts of the season…After allowing four earned runs on April 27 at New York (NL), he tossed 5.1 innings of four-hit, shutout ball on May 2 vs. Chicago (NL).
