Tyler Matzek returns to the Rockies dugout after the eighth inning Friday against San Diego. (Dustin Bradford, Getty Images)
Tyler Matzek’s rookie season with the Rockies is getting better as it goes. After his on Friday, he extended his scoreless innings streak to 21.
And the numbers behind Matzek’s swift win over the Padres puts his game among the best ever thrown by a Rockies pitcher in Colorado.
Matzek’s three hits allowed are the second-fewest ever by a Rockies pitcher in a complete-game shutout. Jeff Francis beat the Cardinals at Coors Field in 2006 with just two hits allowed. And Sun-Woo Kim topped the Giants on three hits, 6-0 in 2005.
The complete list of Rockies complete-game shutouts in Denver:
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PitcherDateOpponentScoreHitsTyler Matzek Sept. 5, 2014 vs. Padres 3-03Jhoulys Chacin April 15, 2011 vs. Cubs 5-0 6Aaron Cook July 1, 2008 vs. Padres 4-0 5Jeff Francis July 24, 2006 vs. Cardinals 7-0 2Sun-Woo Kim Sept. 24, 2005 vs. Giants 6-0 3Mike Hampton May 9, 2001 vs. Mets 6-0 7Brian Bohanon Aug. 28, 1999 vs. Phillies 4-0 4Roger Bailey May 4, 1997 vs. Phillies 9-0 9Mark Thompson Aug. 6, 1996 vs. Marlins 11-0 7David Nied June 21, 1994* vs. Astros 8-0 4
“I feel like I’m progressing the right way,” Matzek said. “It’s about learning every day and getting better every day.”
Matzek threw a first-pitch ball to just six of the 31 batters he faced. And he finished with just one walk — after five pitches to Cameron Maybin, with four balls right on the edge of the zone. “I think two” might have been strikes, Matzek said.
“I feel like I’ve been finding my groove the last two or three games,” Matzek said. “Just everything is working — fastball location, slider, changeup, curveball. Everything feels right, right now.”
On Friday, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said he had Matzek on a two-baserunner limit in the ninth. Closer LaTroy Hawkins was ready to replace the rookie if need be. But he left Matzek to fend for himself.
“I have very little interaction during the game with him,” Weiss said. “He goes down to the other end of the bench and puts his hoodie on. That’s his thing. But there really wasn’t a lot to say.
“We’re seeing a kid get better and better with each start,” Weiss added. “His last three have been really good. He has a good arm. And when you get Strike 1 with the stuff he has, he’s tough.”
Tags: Aaron Cook, Cameron Maybin, Jeff Francis, Jhoulys Chacin, San Diego Padres, Sun-Woo Kim, Tyler Matzek
