The Rockies talk a lot about needing to learn how to win. They’re sure getting a lot of lessons.
They suffered through another on Thursday night with a 2-1 walk-off loss to the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Corbin Carroll slapped a two-out single through the right side to score Gabriel Moreno for the game-winner.
The loss came one day after Colorado lost 5-4 to Texas.
Colorado’s demise on Thursday began ominously when reliever Juan Mejia walked Moreno to open the frame. Mejia also walked Ketel Marte to move Moreno into scoring position. All told, Colorado pitchers issued eight free passes.
The Rockies, who were 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, wasted a brilliant start from usual mid-game reliever Zach Agnos. Making his first start since high school, Agnos pitched five shutout innings, giving up one hit, striking out four and walking just one.
Key moments: Agnos, making his first big-league start, was stressed only once. In the third inning, he issued a one-out walk to Adrian Del Castillo and a two-out single to Marte, but he induced the dangerous Corbin Carroll to fly out to center to end the inning.
As has been the case much of the season, Colorado failed to get a clutch hit in a key moment. With two on in the sixth, Hunter Goodman grounded into an inning-ending double play. In the eighth, the Rockies loaded the bases and scored their only run when D-backs right-hander Juan Morillo plunked Tyler Freeman with the bases loaded. But Goodman fouled out, and Ezequiel Tovar grounded out to third baseman Nolan Arenado, killing the rally.
Who’s hot: It’s a one-man list, but Troy Johnston went 1 for 3 and boosted his average to .324.
Who’s not: Goodman, who, despite hitting 11 home runs, is batting just .236 after going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. The catcher’s K rate is 36%, and he’s hitting .230 with runners in scoring position.
Worth noting: Colorado made several roster moves ahead of Thursday night’s game. Notably, it called up infielder Chad Stevens from Triple-A Albuquerque, and he started at second base.
The Rockies also recalled Blas Castaño from Triple-A and placed center fielder Brenton Doyle on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 20. He has a left oblique contusion, an injury he sustained trying to make a diving catch against the Rangers on Tuesday. He left the game after one inning.
Colorado also optioned lefty Sammy Peralta to Triple-A and designated lefty Carson Palmquist for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Stevens.
Stevens, 27, was impressive at Triple-A this season and was riding a minor league on-base streak of 49 games dating back to last season when he finished the season with Triple-A Salt Lake. His streak included 39 games this season with Albuquerque, an Isotopes record.
Pitching probables
Friday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (4-3, 4.02 ERA)at Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (6-2, 3.49), 7:40 p.m.
Saturday: Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-6, 7.03) at Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (2-4, 4.78), 8:10 p.m.
Sunday: Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (2-2, 4.08) at Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (1-3, 5.19), 2:10 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
