Two men pitchers wanted to make statements Tuesday night at Coors Field.
Veteran Boston right-hander Sonny Gray, the subject of red-hot trade rumors, enhanced his value. Rockies rookie lefty Sean Sullivan showed that he needs a lot of work as a big-league pitcher.
There was a sliver of good news for the Rockies in their 5-2 loss. Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, mired in a deep slump, hit a solo homer in the ninth off righty reliever Garrett Whitlock. It was Tovar’s sixth homer of the season.
Gray dominated Colorado for seven innings, striking out 11. Gray’s only major mistake was a first-pitch cutter that Willi Castro blasted for a 435-foot homer to right in the second inning.
Sullivan, making his third start in the majors, walked a tightrope from the beginning of the game when he walked leadoff hitter Nate Eaton, who scored on Wilyer Abreu’s triple to center. Sullivan hung on for five innings, saving Colorado’s bullpen some work, and gave up only three runs on five hits.
However, Sullivan walked five and committed a balk, and, at times, he looked in over his head.
Boston acquired Gray, 36, from the Cardinals in the offseason, and Gray waived his no-trade clause to make the deal happen. He recently said that he might be open to waiving his no-trade clause again if the disappointing Red Sox continue to fall out of playoff contention.
“If someone came to me from the Red Sox and made a decision that that’s the direction that this team was going to go, I would be open for a conversation,” “Whatever happens from then, only time will tell. But I would be open for a conversation.”
Gray whittled his ERA from 3.12 to 2.95 on a night when he gave up six hits and walked three.
The Rockies host the Red Sox on Wednesday afternoon, looking to win their eighth series of the season.
Pitching probables
Wednesday: Red Sox LHP Ranger Suarez (3-3, 2.93 ERA) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-7, 7.36), 1:10 p.m.
Thursday: Off day
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
