The Rockies are super late to the party, but at least they’re tasting a bit of success as their miserable season winds down.
Playing their best baseball since mid-June, the Rockies blanked San Diego 6-0 on a perfect September Sunday afternoon at Coors Field. The victory completed their first three-game sweep at home this season.
Left-hander Franklin Morales, inconsistent all season, was a model of consistency. He confounded San Diego for six innings, allowing just four hits, striking out six and walking two.
“He was around the zone and had a pretty good breaking ball,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “But he commanded his fastball, and that’s basically what it comes down to.”
It was the Rockies’ second shutout of the Padres in the series, the other coming Friday night when rookie left-hander Tyler Matzek threw a complete-game three hitter in a 3-0 win.
The Rockies got most of their runs Sunday on two big swings. First came a three-run homer by rookie catcher Jackson Williams in the second inning off San Diego starter Tyson Ross. Nolan Arenado banged his 17th homer in the seventh, a two-run shot off reliever Robbie Erlin.
Williams’ homer was the first of his career. He plans to put the souvenir baseball in his man cave.
“My approach was to try to look for something in the middle, because I know (Ross) has good movement on his fastball,” Williams said. “He hung a slider, and I put a good swing on it. I knew I had a shot. I’m not a guy who hits a lot of home runs, but I knew I barreled it and put a good trajectory on it.”
Added Weiss: “Jackson had a big day — his first big-league homer and he caught a shutout. I really like the way he receives the ball. His awareness back there and how he communicates with pitchers, it’s all good stuff.”
Return of Cuddy? Weiss wants outfielder Michael Cuddyer back next season, even though Cuddyer, 35, has struggled through an injury-filled season.
“I just think he means so much to our club, in ways that go beyond the stat sheet,” Weiss said. “We are always going to have a relatively young team, because of the market we are in and because of our payroll. So it makes it even more important to have guys who can set an example in the clubhouse and set an example of how to play the game out here. There is none better than Cuddy. I think that part of it is important to our club and the growth of our club.”
Cuddyer is nearing the end of his three-year, $31.5 million contract and soon will be a free agent. He is scheduled to come off the disabled list Monday.
PHOTOS: Colorado Rockies shutout the San Diego Padres
“I’m ready to go, 100 percent,” said Cuddyer, who has been sidelined with a strained left hamstring.
Anderson update. Lefty Brett Anderson said he’s progressing well after undergoing surgery last month to repair a ruptured disc in his lower back. He’ll begin core-strengthening exercises Monday.
In the past four seasons, Anderson has undergone Tommy John surgery, suffered a stress fracture in his foot, broke his index finger while batting early this season and then injured his back. He has made just 19 starts over the past three seasons. Does he think he’s injury-prone?
“If you look at my track record, obviously it’s a little bit warranted,” Anderson said. “But at the same time, it’s been a lot of different things, different injuries. It’s not just the same thing with my arm, over and over.
“So I like to think that all of that is behind me, and now I’ll be the pitcher I think I’m capable of being.”
The Rockies must decide whether to pick up Anderson’s $12 million option after this season.
Patrick Saunders: psaunders@denverpost.com or
Looking ahead
Rockies’ Jordan Lyles (6-2, 4.35 ERA) at Mets’ Jonathon Niese (8-10, 3.68), 5:10 p.m. Monday, ROOT; 850 AM
When he is on his game and his sinker is sinking, Lyles is tough to beat. The right-hander induces groundball outs and keeps hitters frustrated. But when he leaves the ball floating in the strike zone, as he did against San Francisco in his most recent start, he gets hit hard. He was hammered for six runs and eight hits, including two home runs, in the Rockies’ 12-7 loss to the Giants last week. Lyles has only one win since coming off the disabled list Aug. 6.
Tuesday: Rockies’ Christian Bergman (2-2, 5.23 ERA) at Mets’ Jacob deGrom (7-6, 2.79), 5:10 p.m., ROOT
Wednesday: Rockies’ Tyler Matzek (5-9, 4.32) at Mets’ Bartolo Colon (13-11, 3.96), 5:10 p.m., ROOT
Thursday: Off
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
