Rockies strike out 14 times in 3-2 loss to the Twins

After late-inning shenanigans in many of the Rockies’ recent games, the Colorado Rockies came into their Sunday afternoon rubber match against the Minnesota Twins looking for another series win. However, the Rockies’ bats went quiet against the Twins pitching staff, wasting a fairly well-pitched game by their own arms.

Another quality start for Ryan Feltner

Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner didn’t record a single strikeout this afternoon against the Twins, but he also didn’t issue a single walk and did exactly what was needed of him. Feltner worked for six innings, threw 82 pitches, and gave up just two runs–one earned–on five hits. One of those runs scored in the second inning after a throwing error by third baseman Kyle Karros, while the other came via a solo home run off the bat of Twins second baseman Kody Clemens.

Feltner now has four quality starts in his last six appearances, and has given up more than two earned runs just once in that stretch. However, his ability to strike out batters has faded over the last two games. He struck out only two in his last outing before zero today.

Mixed results from the bullpen

Right-handed reliever Seth Halvorsen was the first to be given the ball after Feltner’s day was done. The hard-throwing Halvorsen tallied two quick outs, but then allowed what would be the game-winning run via a solo home run off the bat of Ryan Kreidler. He then gave up back-to-back singles before being pulled.

Lefty Brennan Bernardino recorded the final out of the seventh inning via a hard-hit comebacker right into his glove on the mound.

Juan Mejia took on the eighth inning and had a much-needed 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout. While he’s had a rough season thus far, Mejia has now gone three straight outings without giving up an earned run.

Drama free in the wrong ways

The Rockies simply couldn’t get much going against the Twins’ pitching this afternoon, and it started against rookie Connor Prielipp. In his first outing against the Rockies, Prielipp pitched six strong innings without giving up a walk, allowed just two earned runs on six hits, and struck out a career high 10 batters.

The Rockies had their best opportunity to put multiple runs on the board in the first inning. Willi Castro led off the game with a single, and Tyler Freeman was hit by a pitch with Castro advancing to third on a Hunter Goodman groundout. Castro was then driven home on an infield single by TJ Rumfield. That would be the only run scored in the inning with a Cole Carrigg forceout and a Kyle Karros strikeout on an overturned ball four via ABS.

Rumfield went 2-for-4 this afternoon, expanding his streak of multi-hit games to five and his overall hitting streak to 11.

The Rockies wouldn’t score again until the sixth inning. Rumfield started the inning with another infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Carrigg. Rumfield was then driven in by a Troy Johnston single. Johnston was also 2-for-4 on the afternoon.

A Carrigg double with two outs–and a good at-bat that turned into an intentional walk by Karros–had the Rockies threatening in the eighth inning, but they failed to score. Catcher Braxton Fulford reached after getting hit by a pitch in the ninth, only for the next three batters to go down quietly to end the game.

The Rockies will head back to Denver tonight to kick off a three-game home series against the Miami Marlins tomorrow evening. Marlins right-handed ace Sandy Alcantara will be on the mound for Miami, while the Rockies have yet to announce their starter. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM MDT.

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