As he stood in the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park last week, Rockies left-hander Tyler Anderson searched for words to explain the stronger-as-it-goes-along trajectory of his rookie season.
“It’s like I’m maybe catching a second wind or something,” he said. “But I do feel good.”
One start after striking out a career-high 10 hitters, Anderson found success with a more minimalist approach Wednesday. Drawing one groundball after another, he dominated the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 7-0 victory in the first game of a split doubleheader at Coors Field.
The victory was the fourth straight for the Rockies (64-68), who have now won five consecutive series against teams currently in first place in the National League.
Anderson pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his 15th start, surrendering six hits while breezing through the lineup of the NL West leaders by inducing eight groundball outs and striking out five. The left-hander was out of gas by the end of his outing after preparing to start Tuesday, but he gritted through the outing and improved to 5-5 and lowered his ERA to 3.43.
“It’s pretty much what we’ve seen all along,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “He was in complete control of the strike zone. He was adding and subtracting with all his pitches. He knows how to keep the ball off the barrel.”
Meanwhile, the feel-good story provided by Stephen Cardullo, celebrating his 29th birthday Wednesday, also continued in a big way. Cardullo, the four-year, independent-league journeyman who was called up by the Rockies last week, hit his first home run in the seventh inning, the dugout exploding with joy as he rounded first base.
“What a special feeling,” Cardullo said. “I think it’s definitely my first home run on my birthday. For it to be my first major-league home run on my birthday, it’s definitely a special feeling.”
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tyler Anderson delivers a pitch to Los Angeles Dodgers' Justin Turner in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Colorado Rockies' DJ LeMahieu, front, avoids the tag by Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Carlos Ruiz to score on a double hit by Nolan Arenado in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Ross Stripling delivers a pitch to Colorado Rockies' Nolan Arenado in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts applauds for the singer of the national anthem before facing the Colorado Rockies in the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Los Angeles Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez strikes out on a pitch from Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tyler Anderson with two runners on base in the sixth inning of game one of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver. The Rockies won 7-0.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager throws to first base after fielding an infield single off the bat of Colorado Rockies' DJ LeMahieu in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Los Angeles Dodgers' Justin Turner follows the flight of his single off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tyler Anderson in the fourth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver. The Rockies won 7-0.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Colorado Rockies shortstop Cristhian Adames, right, throws to first base after forcing out Los Angeles Dodgers' Justin Turner at second base on the front end of a double play hit into by Adrian Gonzalez in the fourth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver. The Rockies won 7-0.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Los Angeles Dodgers' Corey Seager warms up while waiting to bat in the on-deck circle against Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tyler Anderson in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Colorado Rockies' DJ LeMahieu, front, avoids the tag by Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Carlos Ruiz to score on a double hit by Nolan Arenado in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story, who is out for the season, looks on with third baseman Nolan Arenado against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver. The Rockies won 7-0.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Colorado Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez reacts after striking out without swinging against Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Ross Stripling in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Colorado Rockies first baseman Gerardo Parra pulls in a pop up off the bat of Los Angeles Dodgers' Rob Segedin to end the top of the fourth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver. The Rockies won 7-0.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
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Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tyler Anderson delivers a pitch to Los Angeles Dodgers' Justin Turner in the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in Denver.
The biggest highlight of Anderson’s outing came in the sixth, when he put his full arsenal — and grit — on display. After Howie Kendrick led off with a single, Anderson struck out Corey Seager, the frontrunner for NL rookie of the year, with a high fastball. Justin Turner then singled, moving Kendrick to third base.
With Kendrick dancing off third base, and the Rockies’ 2-0 lead hanging in the balance, Anderson dug deep. He blazed a 94-mph fastball past slugger Adrian Gonzalez and then made a swinging Rob Segedin his third strikeout victim of the inning with an 83-mph changeup in the dirt.
“I was just competing, trying to stay under control and throw quality pitches in the zone,” Anderson said. “This time it worked out.”
Anderson was removed to a standing ovation with two runners on base and one out in the seventh inning, and reliever Chris Rusin helped Anderson’s scoreless outing stand up by striking out pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal and Kendrick.
The Rockies had plenty of offense behind Anderson. Cristhian Adames set a career-high with three hits, including an RBI triple during Colorado’s three-run eighth inning.
Nolan Arenado provided an early spark with a double in the first inning that scored DJ LeMahieu, who had reached on his first of two base hits. The hit gave Arenado his 34th RBI of the month, the most ever by a Rockies player in August.
Anderson helped his own cause in the second by driving in Gerardo Parra, who doubled. Parra gave the Rockies a 3-0 lead with his second double of the game in the sixth, which drove in David Dahl, who stole two bases Wednesday and was one of four Rockies players with at least two hits.
